Recent data reveals that only a small fraction of India’s population has access to quality English education.
What is the status of English education in India?
In the age group of 14-18, a little over half (57.3%) can read sentences in English.
Widening gap - Recent data reveals that only a small fraction of India’s population — primarily from affluent, urban backgrounds — has access to quality English education.
Declining proficiency - While the 2011 Census recorded over 10% of Indians reporting the ability to speak some English, a recent survey by Lok Foundation reported 6%.
Impact of widening gap:
Perpetuates socio-economic privilege of upper sections of the community.
Deepens the socio-economic divide among people.
Reinforces existing inequalities.
Challenges India’s aspirations for inclusive growth and socio-economic mobility.
What are the significances of English education?
Global medium - English has become a global medium for diplomacy, commerce, science, and technology.
80% of the world’s academic publications are in English.
Access to international opportunities – Proficiency in English is condisidered a prerequisite for many job and opportunities.
Technical language - In India English underpins key sectors such as medicine, higher education, and IT services.
Digital age - Artificial intelligence and other digital innovations have magnified English’s importance.
Upward social mobility – English knowledge drive not only personal success, but also the broader development of their communities and, by extension, the nation.
What are the significances of education in mother tongue?
Fostering cognitive growth – Instruction in mother-tongue offers a crucial cognitive advantage.
Better learning - Children learn complex concepts more easily in their mother tongue.
Cultural – It helps in retaining a stronger sense of cultural identity when initial teaching is conducted in the language they speak at home.
Learning other languages - Learning any language is significantly enriched by one’s native linguistic foundation and the broader environment in which one is immersed.
What are the challenges in linguistic reform?
Linguistic Diversity - India is home to over 1.3 billion people and more than 22 official languages, with thousands of dialects and languages spoken across the country.
Conflict between States and Union – Most of Non hindi speaking states prefer 2 language policy and Union recommends 3 language policy.
Half-measures – A wholistic linguistic reform considering the aspiration of national and regional regions has often been slow and inconsistent.
Inadequate resources - Schools where regional languages serve as the primary medium often lack the resources or curriculum needed to build strong English skills.
Uneven access - Access to English education is not equal between rural – urban , gender and different socio economic backgrounds.
What lies ahead?
Rather than viewing English and local languages as mutually exclusive, education policies should recognise them as complementary tools, each essential for holistic development.
Ensure that all children, regardless of social or economic background, graduate from school with solid proficiency in both their mother tongue and English.
A dedicated national commission to assess the linguistic to identify cultural, economic, and infrastructural barriers to English learning.
Provide incentives for well-trained English teachers — offering scholarships, higher pay, and rural service allowances.
Integrating English from the early primary years, without compromising the primacy of the mother tongue.
Conduct surveys and consultations to get the opinion of families and communities to understand the grassroots reality of India’s diverse population.
A policy that Maintains the child’s mother tongue as the bedrock of cultural and conceptual understanding while guaranteeing proficiency in English can tackle deep-rooted educational inequalities and unlock India’s unrealised potential on the global stage.
