Summary of publication
This report analyses language-in-education plans for Nepal with a focus on the Ministry of Education's recent mother-tongue-based multilingual education (MTB-MLE).
The report discusses best practices of the MTB-MLE in India, Ethiopia and Burkina Faso and lessons for Nepal; review and critical analysis of the existing MTB-MLE policies and practices in Nepal; experience of success and challenges from two MTB-MLE implemented schools in Nepal; assessment of the extent to which present MTB-MLE activities/processes are geared towards improving student learning outcomes; policy options for the medium of instruction in Nepalese school education.
The report suggests the following points are necessary for the effective implementation of MTB-MLE in Nepal:
- materials in local languages should be prepared before the implementation of the program
- community participation and involvement of other stakeholders should be ensured in all stages of the program
- eight-year long MTB-MLE provides a strong foundation for children's learning and help them achieve better in all subjects including second and foreign language
- decentralised decision-making process, with effective inspection and mentoring, helps for the effective implementation of the MTB-MLE
- and teachers' capacity in mother tongue teaching is one of the most important factors for making teaching and learning of MT effective.