Latest news with #Multilingual
The Wire
2 days ago
- General
- The Wire
National Seminar on Strengthening Multilingual Education Spotlights the Future of Inclusive Learning in India
New Delhi [India], June 30: Language and Learning Foundation (LLF), a leading nonprofit working to strengthen foundational learning in India, recently marked a decade of impact in the education sector. Building on this milestone, LLF hosted the National Seminar on Strengthening Multilingual Education: Insights, Innovation, and the Way Forward at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi. The seminar brought together education leaders, policymakers, practitioners, and development partners to explore how Multilingual Education (MLE) can drive inclusive and effective learning, particularly for children from diverse linguistic and socio-cultural backgrounds. The event underscored LLF's commitment to advancing systemic change in foundational literacy and numeracy through language-responsive teaching practices. The seminar opened with a compelling address by Dr. Dhir Jhingran, Founder and Executive Director of LLF. Reflecting on LLF's decade-long work in the foundational learning space, he said, 'The most important aspect of a multilingual approach is mindset about children's first languages or local languages. We must support development of a mindset that welcomes and respects children's home languages and supports their active use in classrooms. That is the bottom line - an attitude that recognises these languages not as inferior, but as valuable and worthy of inclusion in education.' Shri Sanjay Kumar, IAS, Secretary, Department of School Education & Literacy, Ministry of Education, delivered the keynote address. Emphasising the urgency of mainstreaming MLE, he stated, 'Language gives us identity. It's not just a means of communication—it shapes how we think, feel, and connect. If a child learns one language well, they can learn any language well. That's the strength of multilingualism that our education policy must embrace.' The Guest of Honour, Ms. Prachi Pandey, Joint Secretary (Institutions and Training), Ministry of Education, reinforced the significance of language equity 'India's linguistic diversity is a living symbol of our pluralism. When all languages are treated as equal in the classroom, we nurture not just stronger learning outcomes, but a more inclusive and cohesive society.' The seminar featured a Special Address by Dr. Saadhna Panday, Chief of Education, UNICEF India, who highlighted the need for system-level change 'With all the effort around multilingualism, we compromise quality if it is not well-resourced. Now we have the evidence of what works, we have great commitment from the government, and we've built the momentum with NIPUN 1.0. India has done fantastically with NEP, with NCF, with NIPUN Bharat—really emphasizing the child's home language as the medium of instruction. We need to align these fantastic policies with existing evidence and scale what works.' The Gallery Walk of the MLE Material Exhibition, inaugurated by the Chief Guest and Guest of Honour, offered a vibrant showcase of multilingual teaching-learning resources developed by state governments and education partners. A key highlight was the display of innovative materials created through LLF's ongoing collaborations with states such as Assam, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Odisha, and Rajasthan—demonstrating contextually rich, inclusive tools designed to support foundational learning in diverse linguistic settings. The technical sessions spotlighted powerful examples of Multilingual Education (MLE) in action, including the Neev – Multilingual Education Programme in Chhattisgarh and initiatives by NCERT and UNICEF. These sessions are transforming early grade classrooms into more inclusive and effective learning spaces. The seminar concluded with a collective reflection on the way forward, reaffirming a strong commitment to equity-led foundational learning. LLF's vision—'A Strong Foundation, Stronger Future'—was a recurring theme, with calls for stronger policy alignment and increased support from states to scale multilingual education across the country. About Language and Learning Foundation Language and Learning Foundation (LLF) is a system-focused and impact-driven organisation working at scale towards improving the Foundational Literacy and Numeracy (FLN) outcomes of children in government primary schools in India. Foundational skills such as reading with comprehension, writing independently, and doing simple subtraction are gateway skills that must be acquired and mastered for all future learning in schools. The World Bank has estimated more than half the children in India at late primary age cannot read and understand grade-appropriate short sentences, also defined as learning poverty. Similar findings have been reported by the National Achievement Survey (NAS) and the Annual Status of Education Report (ASER). At LLF, we believe that large-scale transformation in the teaching and learning process is required to address this crisis. With the focus on learning at the bottom of the pyramid, LLF works in educationally marginalized areas where children come from families with low literacy levels, deprived social groups, and where home languages are different from school languages. (Disclaimer: The above press release comes to you under an arrangement with PNN and PTI takes no editorial responsibility for the same.).
Coin Geek
6 days ago
- Business
- Coin Geek
India rolls out multilingual AI to transform railways
Getting your Trinity Audio player ready... India is rewriting the script of digital inclusion. Whether it's using artificial intelligence (AI) to revamp its railway infrastructure or rolling out the nation's first government-backed, multilingual large language model, the country is committed to ensuring that no citizen is left behind because of the language they speak. The South Asian powerhouse has unveiled a major AI-powered initiative to digitally transform its vast railway network, which is the fourth largest globally. This ambitious project is centered on integrating advanced multilingual artificial intelligence tools into the core digital infrastructure of Indian Railways, aiming to reshape the daily experience of millions of passengers across the country. The transformation, spearheaded through BHASHINI—a government-backed multilingual technology platform, seeks to eliminate language as a barrier when accessing railway services. By deploying AI-driven technologies that support multiple Indian languages, the government plans to make railway services more inclusive and accessible to people from diverse linguistic backgrounds. This modernization is particularly significant given the scale of Indian Railways, which employs over 1.2 million people, ranking it the ninth-largest employer worldwide and the second largest within India. Moreover, India is expected to account for 40% of global rail activity by 2050. Toward this modernization, the Digital India BHASHINI Division (DIBD) and the Centre for Railway Information Systems (CRIS) agreed to work together on using AI-powered multilingual tools across key railway platforms. The aim is to bring BHASHINI's advanced language technologies—like speech recognition, translation, text-to-speech, and text scanning—into systems like the National Train Enquiry System (NTES) and RailMadad. This will allow people to access essential railway services in 22 Indian languages. 'This collaboration will transform how millions of passengers engage with railway services daily. Through BHASHINI's AI capabilities, we are ensuring that language is no longer a barrier to accessing vital public services,' Amitabh Nag, chief executive officer of BHASHINI, said in a statement. The collaboration will also focus on creating AI-powered chatbots and voice assistants to support passengers in multiple languages, setting up multilingual help desks, and rolling out these services on websites, apps, kiosks, and call centers. Services will be supported by both cloud and local infrastructure, and real-time voice interactions will be made possible in various Indian languages. Technical workshops and trial runs will begin soon. This partnership supports the goals of Digital India and highlights the country's leadership in using AI to build inclusive public digital services. The initiative heralds a transformative moment in the intersection of public service and artificial intelligence. 'At their core, these efforts aim to dismantle one of India's most persistent barriers to equitable access: linguistic fragmentation,' Raj Kapoor, chairman of India AI Alliance, told CoinGeek. 'By leveraging BHASHINI's multilingual capabilities, the government intends to render railway services intelligible and navigable across India's vast linguistic landscape, thereby enhancing user experience, operational efficiency, and civic inclusion,' Kapoor added. The DIBD, operating under the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology, is a key National Language Translation Mission initiative. Launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in July 2022, BHASHINI aims to make digital content accessible in all Indian languages. Leveraging advanced application programming interface (API) technology, it delivers high-quality language translation services to meet India's diverse linguistic needs while working as a public digital resource. India unveils AI-based multimodal large language model Simultaneously, India has introduced BharatGen, the country's first indigenously developed, government-funded, AI-based multimodal large language model (LLM). BharatGen is a flagship initiative launched under the National Mission on Interdisciplinary Cyber-Physical Systems (NM-ICPS), with a vision to build an AI ecosystem that reflects India's linguistic diversity, cultural values, and ethical foundations. This nationwide effort aims to develop a robust, inclusive, and multilingual artificial intelligence platform that supports communication across 22 Indian languages while seamlessly integrating text, speech, and visual data. By prioritizing accessibility, linguistic inclusivity, and ethical AI development, BharatGen seeks to ensure that advanced technologies are not limited to a few but benefit every citizen, regardless of their language or location. 'This initiative will empower critical sectors such as healthcare, education, agriculture, and governance, delivering region-specific AI solutions that understand and serve every Indian,' Jitendra Singh, Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science & Technology, said in a statement. Singh pointed out that BharatGen aligns with Prime Minister Modi's vision of 'India's Techade,' focusing not only on technological innovation but also on ensuring inclusive growth and access for all. The initiative is designed to bring the power of AI to the grassroots level, transforming critical sectors such as healthcare, education, agriculture, and public administration. For instance, AI-driven virtual health assistants capable of interacting in regional languages could expand telemedicine services to underserved rural communities. In governance, multilingual AI tools may enable more inclusive citizen feedback mechanisms, helping government bodies better understand and respond to diverse populations. 'As a government-funded LLM built with Indian datasets and cultural context in mind, it has the potential to catalyze sector-specific innovation across governance, education, healthcare, and legal services. Its development signifies not only technological ambition but also a broader geopolitical assertion of digital autonomy in an era increasingly dominated by foreign AI infrastructure,' Kapoor of India AI Alliance told CoinGeek. 'Critically, these initiatives also serve as high-stakes test beds for large-scale public AI deployment. Their success could institutionalize trust in AI systems and set precedents for ethical, inclusive innovation within the public sector. However, their transformative potential will only be realized if matched by rigorous data governance, accessibility infrastructure, and a commitment to responsible AI stewardship,' Kapoor added. Indian province joins BHASHINI for language access In India's northeast, the state of Mizoram is quietly leading a digital revolution—breaking down language barriers and building a governance model where inclusivity is at the core of every public service. The DIBD has partnered with the provincial government of Mizoram to advance multilingual technology and support the Mizo community in accessing public services in their native language. Through this collaboration, Mizoram will implement BHASHINI's cutting-edge language platform, reinforcing its dedication to safeguarding the state's linguistic identity while expanding digital access for all residents. 'BHASHINI is proud to support Mizoram in enabling multilingual governance and fostering innovation rooted in the state's linguistic diversity. Together, we are building a future where every Indian, regardless of language, can access digital opportunities,' Abhishek Singh, Additional Secretary, Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), said in a statement. The agreement represents a key achievement in Mizoram's efforts to integrate native languages into governance, enhance digital inclusion for tribal populations, and ensure that government communication is accessible and culturally relevant. The initiative is focused on delivering citizen-centric services by offering government schemes, information, and support in Mizo and other local dialects. It aims to eliminate language barriers in administration, thereby encouraging transparency, civic trust, and broader community participation. Additionally, the partnership will strengthen Mizo language AI capabilities by improving datasets and developing more accurate and context-aware language tools tailored to India's multilingual society. 'This partnership with BHASHINI will make digital governance truly accessible to every Mizo citizen. By preserving our language while embracing technology, we are building a more inclusive digital future for Mizoram,' said Khilli Ram Meena, Chief Secretary, Government of Mizoram. In order for artificial intelligence (AI) to work right within the law and thrive in the face of growing challenges, it needs to integrate an enterprise blockchain system that ensures data input quality and ownership—allowing it to keep data safe while also guaranteeing the immutability of data. Check out CoinGeek's coverage on this emerging tech to learn more why Enterprise blockchain will be the backbone of AI. Watch: India is going to be the frontrunner in digitalization title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen="">
Yahoo
01-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
2024 FCPS Teacher of the Year, from Urbana Elementary, dies of cancer
Ivette Taboas, the Frederick County Public Schools 2024 Teacher of the Year, died of cancer on Wednesday. The former Urbana Elementary School teacher was diagnosed in the spring of 2024. Her son, Anthony Taboas, watched her surprise celebration last year when she won the Teacher of the Year award. 'It was a beautiful ceremony,' he said in an interview on April 24. 'It was just fantastic to see her recognized for the hard work that she's put into herself, into the community and into the school system.' Ivette Taboas grew up in Miami, Fla., and in 2009, moved to Urbana with her husband, Willie Taboas, and three children — Anthony, Frank and Anais. She taught at Hillcrest Elementary from 2009 to 2013; at Centerville Elementary from 2013 to 2018; and at Urbana Elementary since 2020 as the multilingual education program teacher. Ivette Taboas was also an FCPS Itinerant Multilingual Education teacher for four schools from 2018 to 2019. Anthony Taboas said she spoke English and Spanish, and 'had a huge passion for kids with language barriers.' 'That was something that always drove her,' he said. 'She was always an advocate for that. Always an advocate for diversity and inclusion, and making sure that voices that otherwise wouldn't be heard were heard.' In April 2024, Ivette Taboas was surprised at Urbana Elementary with the FCPS Teacher of the Year Award. Tracy Hilliard, the principal of Urbana Elementary School, said in an interview that nominating Ivette Taboas for the award at the school level was 'an easy choice.' Hilliard added that she was 'sure it wasn't difficult for' FCPS to choose Ivette Taboas as the Teacher of the Year districtwide. 'She always went above and beyond and never had to ask. It was just what she did,' she said. 'You never had to ask, or even if you did ask her, [she would say] 'Absolutely. I can take care of that.'' Hilliard said Ivette Taboas was intermittently working at the school for the past three months, and has been absent for the past three weeks. On April 25, Urbana Elementary celebrated Disney Day as a tribute to Ivette Taboas' love for Disney. Staff members and students were also invited to wear sandals to school, which Hilliard said was Ivette Taboas' 'daily uniform.' Hilliard said 'it can be 2 degrees outside' or be 'four feet of snow on the ground,' and the Florida native would still be wearing sandals. Noemy Merlos, a literacy specialist at Urbana Elementary, worked with Ivette Taboas at Hillcrest, Centerville and Urbana elementary schools. Merlos said that when she and Ivette Taboas, whom she called a colleague, a friend and family, were at Centerville as multilingual learner program teachers, enough students tested out of the program and numbers 'lowered so much that it didn't warrant two positions anymore.' 'We were doing our job so well, and now we're being separated,' she said. Merlos said she and Ivette Taboas became co-workers again at Urbana Elementary during the COVID pandemic. 'Once again, we were back together again,' Merlos said. 'It's great when you come to work and you love the people you work with.' She said Ivette Taboas' Teacher of the Year celebration 'was such a joyous day.' Merlos said she and other teachers helped to decorate Mickey Mouse ears and a sash using a Disney font for Ivette Taboas' special day. 'She always said that we all won that award with her,' Merlos said. 'She was like, 'I don't do this job by myself. I have a team, and you're part of my team.'' Anthony Taboas said the family received Ivette Taboas' diagnosis in the spring of 2024. She had stage 4 pancreatic, endometrial and potentially lung cancer. Anthony Taboas said that in mid-April, Ivette Taboas was in the chapel at Johns Hopkins Hospital in a wheelchair. He said there was a woman in the chapel crying after receiving a cancer diagnosis. 'My mom found the strength to get out of her wheelchair, approach this stranger that she doesn't know and wrapped her arms around her and embraced this stranger,' Anthony Taboas recalled. 'She's very much a person that [needed] consoling, and my mom found it in her to pour into that woman.' He said Ivette Taboas 'was always an advocate and a champion for those around her, whether she knows you or not, to be a level of support, even if she's the one that needs it.' FCPS Superintendent Cheryl Dyson wrote in a statement that she was 'struck by [Ivette Taboas'] passion for helping children and families who are new to our community and, in many cases, just beginning to learn the English language.' 'Through her empathy, her humility and her kindness, Ms. Taboas helped Urbana Elementary students build the confidence and skills that will lead them to success,' Dyson wrote. Merlos said Ivette Taboas' impact is 'going to be with us forever.' 'She made such an impression on all of us in a positive way,' she said. 'Her love for life and her love for her profession and her students, it was just amazing.' Hilliard said Ivette Taboas was instrumental in engaging the parents of multilingual learners at the school and created an initiative called 'Day in the Life of a Multilingual Education Student.' The initiative is to walk parents through what a day in their child's life would look like at Urbana Elementary. Hilliard said Ivette Taboas 'was the one that opened that door for us.' 'A light will be missing here at our school. I miss her already,' she said. 'Her spirit and compassion was great, and it's going to be missed but she left a great mark on our staff and our students that were here and got to experience who she was.' Anthony Taboas said Ivette Taboas had a 'relentless determination for those around her.' 'Everyone in her life that has been touched by her presence is a better person because of it, and that's something that I would very strongly say,' he said.
