The Ministry of Education recently initiated a 100-day reading campaign titled ‘Padhe Bharat’ which started from 1st January to 10th April 2022. The campaign also includes the celebration of International Mother Tongue Day on the 21st of February, promoting local languages and cultures.
Modus Operandi of The Campaign
This campaign is in line with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 that emphasises on encouraging a joyful reading culture among children by providing age-appropriate reading books in local, mother tongue, regional, or tribal language. The goal of NEP 2020 is to position India as a global knowledge superpower, making it the third significant overhaul in the educational framework in India since independence, following the policies introduced in 1968 and 1986. The campaign primarily targets children in Balvatika up to Grade 8 and aligns with the objectives of the Foundational Literacy and Numeracy Mission. Stakeholders at national and state levels, including children, teachers, parents, community, and educational administrators are expected to participate.
International Mother Tongue Day
International Mother Language Day, celebrated on the 21st of February, was declared by UNESCO in 1999 and has been observed globally since 2000. This day marks the struggle by Bangladesh to protect its mother language, Bangla. Rafiqul Islam, a Bangladeshi living in Canada, proposed this date to honour the 1952 killings in Dhaka during the Bangla Language Movement. The purpose is to preserve and promote mother languages and safeguard the diverse culture and intellectual heritage worldwide.
Education in India: Constitutional Provisions
Article 45 and Article 39 (f) of Part IV of the Indian Constitution’s Directive Principles of State Policy (DPSP) mandate state-funded, equitable, and accessible education. The 42nd Amendment in 1976 moved education from the State to the Concurrent List. Central government’s education policies provide a broad direction, and although state governments are expected to comply, it isn’t mandatory. For example, Tamil Nadu does not adhere to the three-language formula proposed by the first education policy in 1968. The 86th Amendment in 2002 enforced education as a right under Article 21-A.
Related Laws
The Right To Education (RTE) Act of 2009 promises primary education for all children aged 6 to 14 years and reinforces education as a Fundamental Right. It mandates non-minority private unaided schools to set aside at least 25% of their entry-level seats for children from disadvantaged sections, promoting an integrated and inclusive schooling system.
Related Government Initiatives
Several government initiatives have been introduced to support education including PM POSHAN NIPUN Bharat Mission, Samagra Shiksha, NISHTHA (National Initiative for School Heads and Teachers Holistic Advancement), Digital Infrastructure for Knowledge Sharing (DIKSHA), Study Webs of Active Learning for Young Aspiring Minds (SWAYAM), Scheme for Promotion of Academic and Research Collaboration (SPARC), PRAGYATA Guidelines, and Beti Bachao Beti Padhao.
