Uttar Pradesh promotes Hindi and four regional languages

Uttar Pradesh (UP) is set to implement a new language policy under the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020. This policy promotes Hindi while also encouraging about 1.5 crore students to learn four regional languages: Bhojpuri, Awadhi, Braj, and Bundeli. As part of this rollout, which starts in the 2025-26 academic year, UP has trained 4.5 lakh government school teachers and 1.45 lakh Shiksha Mitras. This training focuses on improving Foundational Literacy and Numeracy for 1.48 crore students in 1.32 lakh government schools. Kanchan Verma, the director general of school education, noted that they have been integrating NCERT books into all government schools gradually. The current academic session introduced NCERT books for classes 1 and 2, with class 3 set to start using them next year. The curriculum has been adjusted to suit local needs while preserving essential content. In contrast to Tamil Nadu, which disagrees with the Union government on language education, UP is promoting Hindi widely. The State Council of Educational Research and Training (SCERT), UP, has created a dictionary that translates Hindi words into the four regional languages. This effort aims to preserve these dialects and support student education. New textbooks are replacing older ones for classes 1 and 2. For example, the Hindi book for class 1 has been updated from 'Kalrav' to 'Sarangi-1.' Similar updates are in place for Mathematics and English. The new English textbook for class 3 will be called 'Santoor.' Additionally, students in classes 6 to 8 will learn about Artificial Intelligence, Robotics, and Coding. The NEP focuses on continuous evaluation and learning through hands-on experiences, as noted by joint director Pawan Sachan. This new approach aims to reduce pressure on students while enhancing their learning experience.