Allow students to write exams in local languages even if course is in English medium: UGC to universities

• Jagadesh Kumar, the Chairman of the UGC, has made a request to universities to allow students to take exams in their local languages, even if the course is taught in English medium
• This move is aimed at ensuring that higher education institutions can contribute to the teaching and learning process in local languages by preparing textbooks and providing support in these languages
• The UGC believes that this step will play a vital role in promoting the use of mother tongues in higher education.

Jagadesh Kumar, the Chairman of the University Grants Commission, has made a request to universities to allow students to take exams in their local languages, even if the course is taught in English medium.

This move is aimed at ensuring that higher education institutions can contribute to the teaching and learning process in local languages by preparing textbooks and providing support in these languages. The UGC believes that this step will play a vital role in promoting the use of mother tongues in higher education.

The commission stressed that it is necessary to strengthen these efforts and “promote such initiatives as writing textbooks in the mother tongue/local languages and encouraging their use in teaching, including translating standard books from other languages”.

“Therefore, the commission requests that students in your university be allowed to write the answers in local languages in examinations even if the programme is offered in English medium, and promote translation of original writing in local languages and use local language in the teaching-learning process at universities,” it said.