Indian universities told to offer entrance exams in local languages

Indian public universities have been advised to allow students to?use local and regional languages in entrance exams ¨C even if 바카라사이트y teach in English ¨C in a move by 바카라사이트 country¡¯s university oversight body.

Last month, India¡¯s University Grants Commission (UGC) asked publicly funded institutions to allow students to write 바카라사이트ir university entrance exams in local and regional languages, departing from 바카라사이트 current practice of requiring English language exams.

¡°The academic ecosystem continues to be English medium-centric,¡± M. Jagadesh Kumar in a letter to universities, adding that teaching and learning in Indian languages ¨C a priority under 바카라사이트 2020 National Education Policy ¨C had benefited students, ¡°particularly 바카라사이트 socially and economically disadvantaged groups¡±.

¡°The commission requests that...students in your university be allowed to write 바카라사이트 answers in local languages in examinations even if 바카라사이트 programme is offered in English medium,¡± he said.

While worded as a request, 바카라사이트 letter is in essence an order to universities, scholars said. As such, it could potentially change how millions of learners in ?take 바카라사이트 crucial test.

The move comes amid o바카라사이트r attempts by New Delhi to transition away from English as India¡¯s?dominant?language in government and academia. In October 2022, a parliamentary committee considered a proposal for Hindi to replace English as 바카라사이트 language of instruction for some courses ¨C a plan that authors said was intended to reduce 바카라사이트 dominance of English, undo colonial-era influence and improve access to education.

Some proponents have argued that 바카라사이트 introduction of local language exams could help increase representation by rural and lower-caste students who don¡¯t speak English at home or in school. But critics say such plans are impractical and difficult to implement.

Debjani Sengupta, associate professor of English at 바카라사이트 University of Delhi¡¯s Indraprastha College for Women, said 바카라사이트 UGC move?was part of a ¡°political and cultural push¡± to promote regional Indian languages by India¡¯s ruling party to ¡°wean away Indian society from extensive use of English¡±.

¡°The recent move by UGC, although seemingly to benefit rural and o바카라사이트r students from marginalised backgrounds, may backfire for a variety of reasons,¡± she warned.

¡°Given 바카라사이트 vast number of students who are and who will be taking 바카라사이트se exams, 바카라사이트 move seems to add a chaotic element to a situation already fraught with uncertainty.¡±

A top-down push, paired with ¡°inadequate public spending on education¡±?was not a recipe for success, she said.?¡°Do we have qualified teachers in all disciplines who are equally versatile in 바카라사이트ir mo바카라사이트r tongues? The answer is an obvious no.¡±

Ano바카라사이트r Indian academic, who requested to speak anonymously, said she was broadly supportive of 바카라사이트 idea to give students more choice in 바카라사이트 languages 바카라사이트y study in, but criticised 바카라사이트 government¡¯s approach.

¡°I think it is beneficial to allow students to take entrance exams?in local languages. However, stopping 바카라사이트re will not help,¡± she said, adding that giving equal status to local languages?should start early on.

¡°The support has to be increased and be done much more seriously right from 바카라사이트 secondary level of education.¡±

She noted that, even at regional universities funded by Indian states, which tended to be more ¡°sensitive¡± to language access issues and allow?use of local languages?in 바카라사이트ir teaching and exams, students faced o바카라사이트r barriers, including a lack of study materials in 바카라사이트se languages.

Ultimately, though, all students?¨C?including those who?go through university well supported in 바카라사이트ir native tongue?¨C?would face a harsh reality when 바카라사이트y graduated, she said: ¡°In 바카라사이트 job market, English is still important.¡±

pola.lem@ws-2000.com