Bhubaneswar: In a significant step toward inclusive early education, Odisha has launched the ‘Aame Padhibaa Aama Bhasare’ (We Will Learn in Our Own Language) campaign to provide pre-school education in the mother tongue of tribal children aged three to six years.
The programme will initially benefit children from the Saura tribal community in Gajapati district. It will be piloted in 30 anganwadi centres across Gumma and Rayagada blocks, where nearly 90 per cent of the population belongs to the Saura community.
Officials said preparatory workshops have already been conducted, and anganwadi workers have received initial training. Additional training sessions will be organised before student enrolment begins to ensure smooth implementation.
The initiative aligns with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, which emphasises the importance of mother-tongue instruction in foundational learning years to improve comprehension, cognitive development, and retention. To support effective execution, the state government has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Piramal Foundation.
Authorities said the programme will gradually be extended to other tribal-dominated districts, with textbooks and learning materials being developed in various indigenous languages.
The campaign is expected to strengthen Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) outcomes while preserving linguistic heritage among tribal communities.
-OdishaAge
