Imagine your child coming home from school and you can't help them with homework because the lessons are taught in a language you don't speak at home. For millions of children in multilingual countries across Asia, this is everyday reality. A new research review from Nepal sheds light on a problem that affects families far beyond that country—and offers important insights for Singapore parents navigating our own complex language landscape.
Nepal, like Singapore, is deeply multilingual. The country has over 120 languages spoken by its communities. Yet for decades, the government pushed a "one nation, one language" policy that sidelined children's mother tongues in favour of the national language. Fortunately, Nepal's constitution now promises to support mother tongue education. But here's the catch: this promise hasn't translated into classroom reality or government funding.
What the Research Found
Researchers reviewed 111 documents—from academic studies to government policies to budget speeches—to understand what's really happening with mother tongue education in Nepal. The findings are sobering: there's a massive disconnect between what the constitution promises, what policies say should happen, and what actually gets funded and taught in schools.
The review identified three critical gaps:
- The policy-practice gap: Government documents commit to mother tongue education, but schools aren't receiving the resources, training, or curriculum materials needed to deliver it.
- The funding gap: When researchers examined Nepal's national budget speeches from 2016 to 2027, they found mother tongue education and language preservation barely got a mention—let alone dedicated funding.
- The design gap: Policies are created "top-down" by government officials in capital cities, without input from the communities and families who actually speak these languages and know what children need.
Why This Matters for Singapore Families
Singapore's situation is different but not entirely dissimilar. We celebrate ourselves as a multilingual, multicultural society, yet the balance between English, Mandarin, Malay, and Tamil in our schools has long been debated. Many parents worry about whether their children are getting enough exposure to their heritage language while keeping up with English. Some worry their child is caught between languages.
Nepal's experience shows us what can go wrong when there's a gap between official language policy and actual classroom support. When a child's mother tongue isn't valued or supported at school, it can affect:
- Their ability to learn—children understand concepts better in their mother tongue first
- Their connection to family and culture—language is how we pass down values and identity
- Their confidence—children who feel their home language isn't "important" may become reluctant learners
The Nepal review emphasizes that sustainable language education needs genuine community involvement, not just top-down mandates. This is crucial for countries like Singapore where different communities have different language priorities and needs.
Three Practical Takeaways for You
- Don't assume the system will do it all. If mother tongue education matters to your family, actively support it at home through reading, conversation, and cultural activities. Schools alone cannot maintain a language.
- Advocate for your community. Engage with your school, parent groups, and education leaders about the language support your child needs. Top-down policies work better when communities provide input about what actually works.
- Keep perspective on bilingualism. Research consistently shows children can thrive with multiple languages. The key is that your child feels both languages are valued—by you, your family, and ideally by their school too.
Nepal's story isn't a failure—it's a learning opportunity. The country is moving toward better community-centered language policies. For Singapore parents, the lesson is clear: supporting your child's mother tongue is a partnership between home, school, and community. When all three work together with genuine commitment, children flourish.