07/08/2021
Recovering Intentions, Reconnoitring Prospects:
Languages, Undergraduate Education and the NEP
A week-long colloquium organised by
The School of Languages, St. Joseph’s College (Autonomous), Bengaluru
5: 30 pm – 6:30 pm (earlier start on some days)
9th August 2021—14th August 2021
While the National Education Policy (NEP) makes interesting suggestions towards protecting language diversity, and promoting Indian languages, some readers have pointed out that these good intentions do not seem to be backed up by concrete ways and means for their realisation. It is worth thinking aloud about whether the increasing demand for English medium education will limit these proposals to being emotionally satisfying gestures that do not change very much about how knowledge is produced or received.
The Government of Karnataka has shown celerity of purpose in implementing the NEP, but this too has prompted questions. Is the implementation of a single-major course structure necessary in a context where the three-major system has worked well? Are these two models supposed to compete with each other, or is one meant to phase the other out? Given the past history of such measures, is a more careful approach required?
While these larger questions continue to be discussed, the proposed course structure that is currently being circulated has caused some anxiety among language departments (inclusive of English) because it summarily reduces the formal language study requirement from four semesters to two. Several faculty delegations have been in conversation with university authorities across the state, as also with the Ministry of Higher Education, and have been given oral assurances that the status quo will not be disturbed.
Our colloquium is being held in this context. We would like this set of conversations to go beyond the status quo to offer two kinds of clarity. One is historical in nature, and is definitely worth pursuing in a time when amnesia occurs despite the opposite intention. When we look at the age-old design that mandates two languages (English+ an Indian Language), what ambition from those times can we recover? How relevant is this ambition today?
The other clarity, to be assembled from listening to diverse experiences and expectations, is about whether this is the right moment for Language departments to seize the day and to ask for more. How should we define this 'more'? What purposes can we achieve through this mobilisation?
Given the diversity of undergraduate systems, and the diverse experiences and backgrounds of students who seek such education, a public conversation is a matter of great urgency. We hope that you, dear reader, will join this conversation today
Watch it live: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCsZpSnARoC44OinlusxcBDg
Or message us if you would like to attend via Zoom
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