Significance of mother tongue instruction in early years: Special on IMLD 2026

Significance of mother tongue instruction in early years: Special on IMLD 2026

The International Mother Language Day (IMLD) 2026, which is recognized by the UN and coordinated by UNESCO, will be celebrated on Saturday, 21 February 2026. The aim of this observance is to enhance linguistic diversity, cultural heritage, and promote multilingual education across the globe.

This year's theme for IMLD is "Youth voices on multilingual education," emphasizing the need to investigate the role of artificial intelligence in addressing linguistic inequalities, thereby aiding in the revitalization of underrepresented languages. Furthermore, it is essential to implement inclusive education to ensure that every learner is supported, recognizing each language as a vital component of identity and social justice.

According to UNESCO, languages are the most powerful instruments of preserving and developing our tangible and intangible heritage and deliberate efforts are needed to be made to promote the dissemination of mother tongues across the globe.

Here are the my ABC poem of significance of mother tongue instruction in early years advocated by educators and researchers

A: Acceptance and respect for local context of socio-cultural environment of place and people to make learning relevant in formative years

B: Building base for cognitively sound education leading to development of thinking skills

C: Creation of culturally linked learning environment to create identity aspect of personality of the child leading to accommodation and inclusion of the child

D: development of learning material in local dialects of the community required for effective and efficient brain development of the children in early education

E: Experiments and researches in development psychology inform that early primary education in mother tongue provides joy of learning due to absence of language development gaps and promotion of active learning

The experiments under Eklavaya, Lok Jumbish, CULP Projects have shown that mother tongue education of a few years with transition to the medium of instructional a standard language leads to better learning outcomes. An NCERT-ERIC Project report by Jaipur-based researcher and educator, Dr Lalit Kishore on transition from local Dundari to Hindi for grade one is available with the NCERT.