- NCERT is developing multilingual teacher training programmes for undergraduate, postgraduate and research students. The proposed model combines language proficiency with classroom pedagogy to help schools expand language choices.
The National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) is developing a new multilingual teacher training model to prepare educators to teach more than one language in schools. The proposed initiative aims to expand language-learning opportunities and address the shortage of teachers equipped to teach multiple Indian languages.
Under the proposed model, students enrolled in undergraduate, postgraduate and research programmes at NCERT, which now holds deemed-to-be-university status, could receive training in language proficiency and the pedagogical skills required teaching multiple languages. The initiative seeks to move beyond the conventional approach in which language teachers are generally trained to teach a single language.
The proposed programmes will focus on both linguistic competence and classroom teaching capabilities. NCERT aims to ensure that trainees possess sufficient academic knowledge of the languages they teach, alongside the ability to deliver lessons effectively.
The model addresses a practical challenge faced by schools that want to offer students a wider choice of Indian languages but have limited resources to appoint a separate teacher for each language. A teacher qualified to teach multiple languages could help schools broaden their language offerings and use available teaching resources more effectively.
However, NCERT is still working out key details, including the number of languages teachers can be trained to teach and the proficiency levels required for each language. The eligibility criteria, programme structure and implementation timeline have also yet to be finalised.
The proposed training model is expected to extend across undergraduate, postgraduate and research-level programmes. It could provide aspiring teachers with opportunities to develop multilingual teaching skills while creating pathways for advanced study in language education and pedagogy.
Postgraduate programmes may help prepare qualified candidates for school teaching, while doctoral research could contribute to teacher education, language-learning methods and educational research. The precise academic structure and professional outcomes remain subject to further development by NCERT.
The initiative aligns with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, which emphasises multilingualism and the importance of learning in students’ home languages or regional languages, particularly during the early years of education.
NCERT’s transition to deemed-to-be-university status provides a framework for introducing new academic programmes, including postgraduate and doctoral courses. The institution is expanding its role beyond curriculum development and educational research to include a broader range of higher education and teacher-training opportunities.
The proposed model seeks to strengthen the availability of qualified language teachers and help schools respond to the linguistic diversity of their students. By combining language proficiency with professional teaching skills, NCERT aims to support more flexible language education.
The initiative remains under development, and further details on admissions, course duration, language options and implementation are awaited. Its impact will depend on the final programme design and the availability of trained teachers across schools.
