Mother Tongue-based educationn for Tribal Kids

BHUBANESWAR: The National Advocacy Council for Development of Indigenous People (NAC-DIP) has urged the Central Government to have a separate chapter on mother tongue-based education for tribal children in the policy being prepared by the Women and Child Development Ministry.At a recent review meeting on the draft policy on ‘Early Childhood Education and Care’, held in New Delhi, the NAC-DIP found various loopholes with regard to tribal children.Early education in mother tongue builds a stronger cognitive foundation for children, it argued. This apart, early education in mother tongue counters low academic achievements and dropout rate of children, particularly in tribal-dominated areas.NAC-DIP delegation met Union Minister for Tribal Affairs and Panchayati Raj V Kishore Chandra Deo and Union Minister of State for  Parliamentary Affairs Harish Rawat and apprised them of the importance of making mother tongue-based early education for tribals compulsory.In Odisha, mother tongue-based early education programme is being implemented by the State Government in 10 districts through Integrated Child Development Scheme (ICDS).