English-medium schools must teach kids in mother tongue till Class 5: Himanta Biswa Sarma

Guwahati: Under the recently-introduced National Education Policy, 2020, teaching in vernacular languages up to class five shall be made mandatory in schools across Assam, stated the education minister Dr. Himanta Biswa Sarma while making an address on the occasion of the 74th Independence Day in Morigaon district.

Sarma, during his address, stated that all students will study in their mother tongue or local, regional languages up to class five. Sarma said that in the course of time, the regional languages lost their relevance in formal education; however, with the coming of the National Education Policy, 2020, they will once again be taught in schools, he stated.

"Even English medium schools shall have to teach either in Assamese, Tiwa, Rabha, Missing, or Bodo up to class five. They will start teaching in English only after class five," Sarma said, adding, "The English medium schools till Class 5, shall have to teach in Assamese, Tiwa, Rabha, Missing, Bodo. English-medium shall only commence from Class 6 onwards", Sarma.

The Assam education minister further stated that the preliminary steps in regards to implementing the National Education Policy, 2020, shall be implemented towards the fag end of this year.

Sarma also proclaimed that Assamese as a subject has been made mandatory for schools in Assam up to class ten. "No matter what school it is, they will have to compulsorily teach Assamese up to class 5; a Bill in that regard has already been passed in the Assam Legislative Assembly."

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