International Literacy Day - Recent Reports on MLE
Happy International Literacy Day! Today, as we celebrate the power of reading and learning globally, it is essential to reflect on a fundamental truth: literacy begins with understanding. Over the past year, a wave of good reports and surveys has put Multilingual Education (MLE) front and center in India’s educational discourse. Aligned with the goals of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 and the NIPUN Bharat Mission, these documents move us past theoretical debates and offer concrete, evidence-based pathways for classroom practice. On International Literacy day we can take a look at the documents published in 2025 and 2026 that demonstrate why language matters in early grade learning—and why these insights are important to India’s mother tongue education and MLE efforts. 1. Bhasha Matters: Mother Tongue and Multilingual Education (UNESCO, UNICEF & British Council) Released in December 2025, this flagship report highlights the critical connection between mother tongue-based i...