IGNOU launches MBA study material in Odia; promotes regional language education under NEP 2020

NEW DELHI: In accordance with National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, IGNOU has launched MBA study materials in Odia. The study materials launched on Tuesday by Union education minister Dharmendra Pradhan in Bhubaneswar. Launching the study material in the native language, Pradhan said a new chapter was added today in the field of higher and professional education in Odisha.

The launch ceremony took place in the presence of T G Sitharam, Chairman, All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE), and Uma Kanjilal, Vice Chancellor of IGNOU and Mrutyunjay Behera, Economic Advisor and Joint Secretary, Ministry of Education.

Dharmendra Pradhan lauded IGNOU’s role in spreading quality higher education across India, particularly in remote areas. He emphasised the importance of imparting education in one’s mother tongue, highlighting how learning in a native language fosters innovative thinking and deeper comprehension.

Importance of education in mother tongue

The minister also highlighted that love for one’s mother tongue does not imply undermining English or any other language.

He thanked both IGNOU and AICTE for the launching of study materials of technical and professional education in different regional languages under NEP 2020 and expected that in the days to come, IGNOU will make efforts to offer more programmes in the regional languages.

"Odisha is in the process of implementing different facets of the National Education Policy, 2020 of which provision of education in Mother Tongue is a great part", he said. The minister praised IGNOU’s activities in spreading higher education in the country irrespective of caste, creed, region, gender and age. He noted the potential of IGNOU to offer higher education to a diverse population in Odisha, including youth and working professionals, regardless of caste, creed, or region.

IGNOU, AICTE collaboration in regional education

IGNOU and AICTE in March last year signed an agreement for translation of the varsity's MBA study materials into 12 Indian native languages, including Odia and Hindi.

Intimating about Tuesday's launch, the ministry of education also posted on X, stating that this initiative aligns with the principles of NEP 2020, which emphasises the promotion of Indian languages and the democratisation of higher education to ensure no learner is left behind.