By team abhyaspeeth 
Abhyspeeth Education Desk
New Delhi: In a major shift aligned with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has officially mandated the implementation of the ‘Mother Tongue First’ instructional policy across all affiliated schools starting from the 2025–26 academic session. This directive follows the updated guidelines set in the National Curriculum Framework for School Education (NCF-2023).
Under this policy, students will be taught primarily in their mother tongue, home language, or regional language during their foundational years of learning. The aim is to ensure that children develop strong literacy and comprehension skills in a language they are most comfortable with before transitioning to a second language like Hindi or English for academic purposes.
CBSE’s latest circular emphasizes that early learning in a familiar language not only enhances understanding but also strengthens conceptual clarity, a principle that has been backed by several child development studies globally. Schools are expected to ensure that classroom instruction—especially in foundational stages (up to Class 2)—is delivered in the child’s native or home language wherever possible.
This move is part of a broader effort to make education more inclusive, rooted, and culturally relevant, particularly for students from linguistically diverse backgrounds. By adopting this approach, the CBSE hopes to reduce early learning gaps and enhance educational outcomes, especially in rural and multilingual settings.
However, the board has also recognized the practical challenges some schools may face. It has, therefore, advised institutions to begin planning teacher training, resource allocation, and curriculum translation work in advance to ensure a smooth transition.
For parents, educators, and school administrators, this marks a significant pedagogical shift. While the implementation may vary across regions based on linguistic demographics, CBSE has reiterated that the ultimate goal is to build strong foundational literacy and numeracy skills before introducing new languages as academic mediums.