Researchers in Nepal examined 111 documents—academic studies, government policies, and budget speeches—to understand whether the country's constitutional promise to support mother tongue education was actually being delivered in schools. Like Singapore, Nepal is deeply multilingual, with over 120 languages spoken across communities. Yet for decades, a "one nation, one language" policy had sidelined children's home languages in favour of the national language.
The findings revealed three major gaps between promise and reality: schools lacked resources and training to teach in mother tongues, national budgets barely mentioned language preservation funding, and policies were designed by government officials rather than the communities and families who actually speak these languages.
Why the policy-practice gap matters for your child's learning
When schools don't support a child's mother tongue, it affects how they understand new concepts. Children typically grasp ideas more easily when taught in the language they speak at home first. In Nepal's case, this disconnect meant many children struggled academically because lessons were in a language that wasn't their first. For Singapore families, this offers a cautionary reminder: even in a system that officially recognises four languages, inconsistent classroom support can create similar barriers.
How language at school shapes cultural identity at home
The research emphasises that language is more than an academic subject—it's how families pass down values, stories, and cultural identity. When children perceive their home language as unimportant at school, they may become reluctant to use it or learn it properly. This can weaken their connection to extended family, cultural practices, and heritage. The study found this problem was worse in communities where top-down policies didn't account for what families actually needed.
A sustainable approach requires genuine community input
Nepal's experience shows that language education works better when families and communities help shape policies, rather than having decisions made only by officials. The review notes that without this involvement, even well-intentioned policies fail to reach classrooms. For Singapore parents, this suggests that advocating for your child's language needs—whether at school level or through parent groups—matters more than waiting for system-wide changes.