Category Archives: Multi-lingual education

“The educational difficulties faced by tribals have been addressed through bilingual or multilingual programmes that start with education in the child’s mother tongue, then transit to the regional or state language, and finally progress to the study of English. This three-language formula, however, remains in an experimental stage, and its practice is limited to isolated pilot projects. […] There are 418 different tribes in India, with even more languages and dialects. Each group is also associated with a specific region through language, food habits, occupational characteristics and geography. To accommodate these diverse and culturally distinct communities with a single educational policy is a mammoth task, verging on the impossible.” – Dr. Boro Baski (“Long-term success of non-formal Adivasi school in West Bengal” in: Development and Cooperation 7-8/2009)

“If you map the parts of India where illiteracy is highest, you will find that it matches the parts where the mother tongues of children are different from the official language.” – Prof. Ganesh Devy (linguist, Unesco Linguapax laureate and founder of the Vadodara-based Bhasha Research and Publication Trust) in: “How Tribal Kids in MP Are Getting a Chance to Learn in Their Languages” (thebetterindia.com, 2 August 2017)

Cultural invisibility – India’s 600 potentially endangered languages

Posted on 20/05/2020 by website administrator

The state of indigenous languages today mirrors the situation of indigenous peoples. In many parts of the world, they are on the verge of extinction. […] However, with the growing global recognition of indigenous knowledge systems, the hope that indigenous … Continue reading →

Posted in Assimilation, Childhood and children, Community facilities, Constitution and Supreme Court, Democracy, Education and literacy, Endangered language, Figures, census and other statistics, Government of India, Languages and linguistic heritage, Maps, Misconceptions, Modernity, Multi-lingual education, Names and communities, Organizations, Press snippets, Revival of traditions, Seven Sister States, Tribal identity | Tagged , , | Comments Off on Cultural invisibility – India’s 600 potentially endangered languages

“Why India Needs Scheduled Tribes to Educate its Future Judges”: Adivasi rights and the the Indian constitution

Posted on 20/05/2020 by website administrator

The rights of adivasis in the Indian constitution are not an act of benevolence to “mainstream and uplift them” but a recognition that the “mainstream” of Indian society has many streams that flow into it, each of them equally valid. … Continue reading →

Posted in Assimilation, Commentary, Constitution and Supreme Court, Education and literacy, Government of India, Misconceptions, Multi-lingual education, Rights of Indigenous Peoples, Worship and rituals | Comments Off on “Why India Needs Scheduled Tribes to Educate its Future Judges”: Adivasi rights and the the Indian constitution

Tip | “How to address misconceptions on tribal customs and culture in the classroom?” – Ideas and practices worth sharing among peers and students

Posted on 19/05/2020 by website administrator

There’s much to learn from the positive contributions made by tribal communities on a daily basis. To start with, let’s learn from insiders and others who have dedicated their lives to ensuring that a precious heritage will continue to make … Continue reading →

Posted in Adverse inclusion, Childhood and children, Colonial policies, Community facilities, Cultural heritage, Customs, Democracy, Ecology and environment, Economy and development, Education and literacy, Endangered language, Ethnobotany, Gandhian social movement, Health and nutrition, History, Languages and linguistic heritage, Maps, Misconceptions, Modernity, Multi-lingual education, Names and communities, Networking, Organizations, Particularly vulnerable tribal group, Press snippets, Quotes, Rights of Indigenous Peoples, Sacred grove, Storytelling, Success story, Tagore and rural culture, Tips, Tribal identity | Comments Off on Tip | “How to address misconceptions on tribal customs and culture in the classroom?” – Ideas and practices worth sharing among peers and students

Tip | Download comic books as PDFs: Free resources for rural education and health care – Unicef

Posted on 18/05/2020 by website administrator

Animated online version: Welcome to Meena’s World! To enter, you need. Shockwave, Flash and RealVideo plug-ins. Source: UNICEF ROSA – Media centre – Meena Communication InitiativeAddress: https://www.unicef.org/meena/Date Visited: 3 November 2018 Download the following 14 volumes for free via Google Drive … Continue reading →

Posted in Childhood and children, eBook download sites, Education and literacy, ePub, Health and nutrition, Multi-lingual education, Organizations, PDF printfriendly, Storytelling, Tips, Women | Comments Off on Tip | Download comic books as PDFs: Free resources for rural education and health care – Unicef

Infusing the Santhali Element in Schooling by Rina Mukherji

Posted on 13/04/2020 by website administrator

[…] “Santhal children are compelled to leave behind the culture they grew up in , whenever they go in for modern education and learning the rudiments of the three r’s. It results in their loss of confidence, and utter confusion … Continue reading →

Posted in Adivasi, Childhood and children, Crafts and visual arts, Cultural heritage, Education and literacy, Globalization, Health and nutrition, History, Homes and utensils, Languages and linguistic heritage, Media portrayal, Modernity, Multi-lingual education, Music and dance, Names and communities, Nature and wildlife, Organizations, Quotes, Seasons and festivals, Social conventions, Tribal elders, Women | Tagged | Comments Off on Infusing the Santhali Element in Schooling by Rina Mukherji