This document summarizes a seminar on introducing multilingualism in elementary education in Odisha, India. It discusses the rationale for using mother tongues as the medium of instruction, initiatives taken by the Odisha government including adopting multilingual education in 10 tribal languages in 2006. The objectives of multilingual education are to ensure equitable quality education for tribal children and develop literacy, self-respect, identity, and national integration. Benefits discussed include enhanced cognitive abilities, employment opportunities, and cooperation. Multilingual education is said to promote living togetherness by developing democratic spirit and sensitiveness between teachers and students.

1. A
SEMINAR ON
INTRODUCING MULTILINGUALISM
AT ELEMENTARY LEVEL IN ODISHA :
INITIATIVES SO FAR
JYOTEERMAYEE MOHARANA
P.G STUDENT
RAVENSHAW UNIVERSITY, CUTTACK

2. MULTILINGUALISM
• Multilingualism is the use of more than one
language.
Rational behind introducing MLE in Odisha at
elementary level.
 To introduce mother tongue as the medium of instruction.
 To increase the literacy rate of tribal student in Odisha
 For giving authentic and clear understanding to tribal students
through mother tongue.
 For providing equitable quality education to all.
 For developing, constructing knowledge.

3. Initiatives are taken by Govt. Of Odisha
to implement multilingualism
• Govt. Of India, NCERT, CIIL, and UNESCO
conducted a seminar on multilingualism in 2005
at Mysore.
• From that odisha as the 1st state in India adopt
multilingualism in April, 2006.
• OPEPA conducted a seminar conference at the
state level based on the findings of the state
conference.
• State government constitutes the SATC headed by
the chief minister in July 2006, adopted in 10
languages in 8 district based on tribal people.

4. Cont...
• In 2006-07, the SSA incited MLE programme in 10
languages for period of five years and it is based
on the principle of NCF 2005.
• Govt. Of Odisha take initiates as
– DIET facilities were identified for academic support.
– Teachers language resource person selected from 10
tribal communities.
– The mother tongue will be the medium of instruction
for 1st five years. Odia in class-2 and English in class 3

5. Objectives of Multilingual Education in
Odisha
• To ensure equitable quality education to tribal
children.
• To develop the reading and writing skill
through mother tongue.
• Develop socio-economic status through
literacy.
• To develop self respect self identity.
• To develop national integration and
democratic spirit.

6. Benefits of MLE
• Enhance Childs working memory.
• Multi-tasking.
• More open minded and sensitive for others.
• Develop s listening ability.
• Bi-cultural.
• Develop cognitive abilities.
• Employment opportunities.
• Co-operation and collaborative work.

7. How MLE Promotes Live Togetherness
• Through developing democratic spirit.
• Improves relationships among teacher and
students.
• Improves good understanding among students.
• Through developing problem solving ability.
• Develop the sense of sensitiveness for others.
• Through developing divergent thinking.
• By making open mindedness.