Language Education: Reality and Expectations

           

   After 1990 the Indian economy accepted privatization and free approach. This change has completed more than 25 years.  Economic changes are major changes which give boost-up to other changes of the society. This change did not happen in India only. This time former Soviet Russia has gone through economic changes and disintegrated into 15 independent countries. During the time media revolution took place in World. Computers, e-mail, and mobile phones these tools played a major role in this development and this new development will continue in future. So, social media helped for this development. The number of English medium schools increased in leaps and bounds during the1990s. Our middle class is a big client and lower middle class also followed this approach.  Due to influence of social media everybody wanted to learn English for expressing thoughts. The owners of social media are mostly multinational and they provided regional language and type for those who have not background of English language. So, all of us got an opportunity to express a thought and ideas on social media. Particularly, those who do not have knowledge of English got a platform in media. This is one of the developments under the great influence of social media. In present context contemplation is required on language education in respect of reality and expectations.

Reality:

  There were two commissions constituted for revolution in education after independence; one is Kothari Commission and other is National Education Policy, 1986. The present formula 10+2+3 was adopted after Kothari Commission and a uniformity came in the national education. The State of Maharashtra implemented this formula during the academic year 1973-74 and this impacted on language education. The commission recommended three language formulas at secondary level education. The North and West Side States of India accepted this formula whereas south states opposed to learn Hindi language and they implemented two language formula. The state of Maharashtra made one major change in 10^th standard examination and diluted hardness in its pattern. This pattern cut dawn the language and grammar from Mathematics, Science and Social Sciences. The language and social science studies were given less importance than Mathematics and Sciences. This impacted on more passing in the 10^th standard and student away from language studies. The new generation came inthe existence without language education. The important note is Sanskrit and Ardhmagdhee languages were close dawn in various colleges and same picture has been created in respect of Marathi which known as state language of Maharashtra. The education progress in 1974 to 1984 captured by ‘Non-grant’ and ‘donation’ culture. This culture  occupied maximum  space in the present system. Before 1983 the Marks of 12^th Science was main criteria for getting admission to B.E and M.B.B.S courses. This criteria lost importance and ‘donation’ created influence in the education system. The middle career students became doctors and engineers without knowledge and background of language and grammar. It is observed that the most of students are not getting jobs in the market. The Science education also lost its importance and day by day the students are moving away from this stream.  National Educational Policy promoted Technology. Open and Distance Education was also established in our system. So more options were created for students. But the language studies and particularly Indian languages were left far behind from this development. At University level most of languages departments are in picture only because of grant from government. The student doesn’t want to join language courses and departments have no new idea of language studies. On other side students are enrolled for foreign languages and Asian languages like Chinese, Japanese, and Korean for their economical servile. But unfortunately   on the political platform, regional languages are became victimized of pride. And languages are facing social and cultural survival. After 1970s,language education lost an image.The educational policies, political popularity, absence of right policies, and negligence of language sons’ these all factors were played a major role in this context and this process has been continued with all efforts. 

Expectations:

    Language is sensation in human life and media for expressions. So, language study has long future. More positive changes are required in educational policies started from 1973-74 which gave less importance to language studies and its education. State government should come forward for investment and accept language studies as part of social and cultural development. Society should take honest initiative for language studies and its education. The colleges and universities are main pillars of the education system so they should take initiative. They should make proper changes in language studies as per new requirement of the society. Today’s regional language world is more bounded with stories, novel, poems, critiques and annual gathering of writers. Our regional languages would spread in new area of human life and promote others also for their writing contributions’. For example, Doctor must write a good book on medical in regional language.  Automatic language will get new and appropriate face. It is observed that our efforts were very less for getting more contributions’ from different section of the society. A pride of language will teach more narrow approaches but not a development of language and society. Our regional languages have better prospect and good future, if we neglect imperative complex about our language and come forward on positive side of development.

                                                               Dr. Sanjay Ratnaparakhi

                                                               Email:rsanjay96@hotmail.com

                                                                 (Above English text based on post Monday 8, 2016.)