Primary education in mother tongue can boost child's self-esteem and creativity: Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu

Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu on Sunday said that primary education should be made the primary medium of instruction till class 5, as it will boost children’s self-esteem and creativity. Speaking at an inaugural session of a webinar organised by the Education Ministry and the Culture Ministry, he further added that educating a child in a language that was not spoken at home can be a big impediment to learning especially at the primary stage.

On the occasion, the Vice President said that teaching through the mother tongue in the initial stages of education can boost a child’s self-esteem and enhance his or her creativity. Naidu also focused on five key sectors to promote the use of the mother tongue.

Apart from emphasising the use of mother tongue in primary education, the other areas are the use of local languages in administration, court proceedings



and to deliver judgments in them.

He also wanted a gradual increase in the use of indigenous languages in higher and technical education and emphasised that everyone should proudly and preferably use their mother tongue in their homes.

Highlighting the importance of mother tongue in governance, Naidu added that the use of mother tongue should be increased, especially at state and local levels.

"Only by communicating with the common person in a language he or she understands can we include him or her in the process of governance and development. Language of administration should be the language of the people," said the Vice President.

Union Education Minister Ramesh Nishank Pokhriyal, Union Culture Minister Prahlad Singh Patel, and Union Minister of State for Education Sanjay Dhotre were among the dignitaries present during the virtual event.