On Hindi Diwas, Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Vishnu Dev Sai announced making Hindi the medium of instruction in all government medical colleges from the 2024-25 session. The move is in line with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision to promote regional languages in education, especially in professional courses. It aims to help students, especially those from rural and tribal backgrounds, better understand complex medical subjects by teaching them in their native language. The state currently has 10 government medical colleges and according to the CM, teaching in Hindi medium will strengthen the basic understanding of students who find it challenging to learn in English.
However, a similar initiative announced in Uttar Pradesh in November 2023 did not go down well among medical professionals. The decision, aimed at making students from rural backgrounds proficient in Hindi, was widely criticised. According to media reports, similar initiatives in Uttarakhand and Madhya Pradesh were also criticised.
introduction of Medical education through Hindi medium The start of the new academic session in Chhattisgarh from the 2024-25 academic session raises an important question: will this initiative follow the same path Regional Language Engineering Course Is this a program that will have low enrollment, or will it find success among aspiring medical professionals?
Engineering in regional languages: A sorry state of affairs
While the intentions behind introducing Hindi-medium medical education may seem promising, the experience of regional language engineering courses presents a cautionary outlook. According to media reports, several states, including West Bengal, Kerala and Karnataka, have discontinued their regional language engineering programmes due to low or zero enrolment. In West Bengal alone, no student enrolled in regional language programmes last year.
Data from the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) shows that only 65 per cent of the 2,580 seats sanctioned for regional language engineering courses were filled across 35 institutes in 13 states. This failure could be due to the perceived stigma around non-English vocational education, as well as limited career prospects and industry acceptance.
The role of language in vocational education
The biggest concern for Hindi medium medical education is whether students will be able to compete at the global level. Education TimesMedical experts argue that while studying in Hindi medium may be easier for students in the short term, it may limit their growth in the long run. Dr Sanjay Tewatia, senior consultant at Lucknow’s Balrampur Hospital, told Education Times that medical students should read and understand international research papers, which are mainly published in English. He believes that Hindi medium students may face difficulties while preparing for higher exams like NEET-PG, where English remains the primary medium.
According to another Education Times Education consultant Anuj Goyal also echoed this sentiment in the report and said that Hindi medium students may face challenges during internships or exchange programmes abroad, where proficiency in English is crucial.
NEP 2020 and regional language education
The National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, which encourages the use of regional languages in education, supports Chhattisgarh’s move. The policy promotes the idea that learning in one’s native language builds a better relationship between students and teachers. This can lead to a deeper understanding of subjects, especially for students from rural or underprivileged backgrounds who may not have strong English language skills.
However, as seen in engineering programmes, awareness and acceptance of regional language education remain major challenges. According to media reports, some students and parents perceive regional language programmes as substandard, which can negatively impact enrolment numbers and the reputation of institutions.
Will medical education through Hindi medium be successful?
The success of Hindi-medium medical education in Chhattisgarh will depend on several factors. First, there must be a concerted effort to remove the stigma associated with non-English education. Second, medical graduates educated in Hindi must be accepted by the industry. As Dr Yogendra Malik of the National Medical Commission told Education Times, providing education in regional languages is necessary for inclusivity, but students will eventually have to adopt English for higher studies and professional success.
The way forward for Hindi medium medical education
The move to introduce Hindi-medium medical education is a step towards inclusivity and regional language promotion, but its success remains uncertain. The challenges faced by regional language engineering courses may be repeated in medical education too, unless appropriate measures are taken to raise awareness, ensure industry acceptance, and provide pathways for students to transition to English if required. The next few years will tell if this initiative can succeed where other efforts have struggled.
However, a similar initiative announced in Uttar Pradesh in November 2023 did not go down well among medical professionals. The decision, aimed at making students from rural backgrounds proficient in Hindi, was widely criticised. According to media reports, similar initiatives in Uttarakhand and Madhya Pradesh were also criticised.
introduction of Medical education through Hindi medium The start of the new academic session in Chhattisgarh from the 2024-25 academic session raises an important question: will this initiative follow the same path Regional Language Engineering Course Is this a program that will have low enrollment, or will it find success among aspiring medical professionals?
Engineering in regional languages: A sorry state of affairs
While the intentions behind introducing Hindi-medium medical education may seem promising, the experience of regional language engineering courses presents a cautionary outlook. According to media reports, several states, including West Bengal, Kerala and Karnataka, have discontinued their regional language engineering programmes due to low or zero enrolment. In West Bengal alone, no student enrolled in regional language programmes last year.
Data from the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) shows that only 65 per cent of the 2,580 seats sanctioned for regional language engineering courses were filled across 35 institutes in 13 states. This failure could be due to the perceived stigma around non-English vocational education, as well as limited career prospects and industry acceptance.
The role of language in vocational education
The biggest concern for Hindi medium medical education is whether students will be able to compete at the global level. Education TimesMedical experts argue that while studying in Hindi medium may be easier for students in the short term, it may limit their growth in the long run. Dr Sanjay Tewatia, senior consultant at Lucknow’s Balrampur Hospital, told Education Times that medical students should read and understand international research papers, which are mainly published in English. He believes that Hindi medium students may face difficulties while preparing for higher exams like NEET-PG, where English remains the primary medium.
According to another Education Times Education consultant Anuj Goyal also echoed this sentiment in the report and said that Hindi medium students may face challenges during internships or exchange programmes abroad, where proficiency in English is crucial.
NEP 2020 and regional language education
The National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, which encourages the use of regional languages in education, supports Chhattisgarh’s move. The policy promotes the idea that learning in one’s native language builds a better relationship between students and teachers. This can lead to a deeper understanding of subjects, especially for students from rural or underprivileged backgrounds who may not have strong English language skills.
However, as seen in engineering programmes, awareness and acceptance of regional language education remain major challenges. According to media reports, some students and parents perceive regional language programmes as substandard, which can negatively impact enrolment numbers and the reputation of institutions.
Will medical education through Hindi medium be successful?
The success of Hindi-medium medical education in Chhattisgarh will depend on several factors. First, there must be a concerted effort to remove the stigma associated with non-English education. Second, medical graduates educated in Hindi must be accepted by the industry. As Dr Yogendra Malik of the National Medical Commission told Education Times, providing education in regional languages is necessary for inclusivity, but students will eventually have to adopt English for higher studies and professional success.
The way forward for Hindi medium medical education
The move to introduce Hindi-medium medical education is a step towards inclusivity and regional language promotion, but its success remains uncertain. The challenges faced by regional language engineering courses may be repeated in medical education too, unless appropriate measures are taken to raise awareness, ensure industry acceptance, and provide pathways for students to transition to English if required. The next few years will tell if this initiative can succeed where other efforts have struggled.
