Multilingual Education and India

It is quite rare to get a broad snapshot on what is happening in a country with regards to Multilingual Education. I therefore thoroughly enjoyed participating in the recent webinar organized by the National Consortium on Multilingual Education in India (NCMLEI) about an MLE landscaping study that Tata Trusts did in India. In this blog, you can read a few insights, and I strongly recommend watching the whole webinar ! The NCMLEI #6 webinar presented by Akhila Pydah & Dr. Shailaja Menon showcased insights from a nationwide landscaping study on Multilingual Education (MLE)  by Tata Trusts between February and April 2025. This study drew from expert consultations, organisational interviews, field visits across four states, and extensive desk research, the study provided a systematic mapping of MLE efforts across India.  Key Findings Finding 1: Lack of a unified understanding of MLE- India lacks a clear, shared understanding of multilingual education (MLE). Literature define...

The international mother language day usually triggers the publishing of multiple articles on language. This year there were also several relevant publications related to multilingual education . We picked 5 for you that might be of particular interest. The following articles highlight recent developments, offering valuable insights into multilingual education's role in enhancing student learning, cultural identity, and social inclusion. By examining these articles, we can understand the impact of these changes and how they align with the goals of UNESCO’s multilingual education guidelines. The combination of policy developments, local movements, and scholarly perspectives makes this an important time for MLE advocates to continue pushing for greater linguistic inclusivity in education systems. 1. UNESCO's Global Guidance on Multilingual Education: A Valuable Resource A new UNESCO publication on multilingual education came out on International Mother Language day "Languag...

Student assessment is a hot topic in the education world. With multiple languages being used in the classroom, assessment practices need to be adjusted. In a recent webinar Carol Benson challenged us all to design student assessments in a  multilingual way.  As she does not only talk about the theory but also gives practical examples it is definitely worth listening to! The National Consortium on Multilingual Education in India hosted their third talk in their Multilingual Education (MLE) series on the 3rd of December. The topic was “ Assessing Multilingual Learners Multilingually ” by MLE expert Dr. Carol Benson . Dr. Benson is an Associate Professor in Columbia University(Education and Literacy) and also the founder  and Director of MLE International, which works on L1 based Multilingual Education.  The talk primarily focused on innovative approaches to assessing multilingual learners, with a particular emphasis on fostering metalinguistic awareness and assessing m...