British Council, CBSE discuss multilingual education, pedagogy in India

NEW DELHI: The UK’s British Council, in collaboration with the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE), held a ‘School Education Conference’ to promote multilingual pedagogy and practice in school education in India. Over 200 experts from schools, educational institutions, and leaders of CBSE, National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT), and English and Foreign Languages University (EFLU).

“The conference aligns with the latest policy reforms, including NEP (National Education Policy) 2020 and the NCF-SE (National Curriculum Framework for School Education),” the British Council statement said.

The conference was inaugurated by Sanjay Kumar IAS, secretary from the department of school education and literacy along with Rahul Singh IAS, chairperson of CBSE.

The event highlighted and shared best practices in multilingual education and pedagogy which aligns with the NEP 2020. The discussions were centered around exploring innovative practices in school education that align with the NEP 2020 and the NCF-SE policy, with an emphasis on multilingual education.

Additionally, multiple panel discussions, workshops, and plenary sessions were delivered by trainers from various groups and the UK's most renowned universities such as the University of Birmingham, Goethe University Frankfurt, CBSE, ELT Consultant, etc.

“Through engaging sessions and collaborative workshops, the conference deepened participants' understanding of multilingual pedagogy, shared best practices, and develop actionable insights aligned with India’s educational priorities and CBSE’s strategic focus areas,” the British Council statement adds.

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School Education Conference

At the conference session, under the theme "Enhancing Multilingual Pedagogy and Practice in the Classroom," experts discussed ways to bring together educators, policymakers, linguists, and pedagogical specialists. They explored strategies and methods to incorporate multilingual practices into education.

“As highlighted in the NEP 2020, multilingualism "not only promotes cognitive development but also enhances empathy and respect for other cultures and languages"—values that are essential in fostering a cohesive, inclusive, and pluralistic society,” the British Council statement added.

While addressing the attendees at the conference, Sanjay Kumar the secretary education and department of education and literacy, ministry of education said: “We have embarked on a vital journey to enhance multilingual pedagogy across India. Given our country’s rich linguistic diversity, it is essential to foster inclusive educational environments that embrace multiple languages, as emphasised by the National Education Policy 2020. Our shared efforts are focused on empowering educators with the tools and strategies needed to support multilingualism in the classroom, enabling students to engage more deeply with their learning while nurturing respect for cultural diversity. By championing multilingual education, we can ensure that all students have the opportunity to thrive academically and socially in a rapidly changing global landscape."