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  • UNESCO Award Winner

MOTHER TONGUE BASED MULTILINGUAL EDUCATION

Bridging Language • Safeguarding Identity • Transforming Lives

Transforming Education

At KISS, we understand that language is more than just a means of communication—it is the soul of culture and identity. For many tribal children, learning in an unfamiliar language becomes a barrier, leading to poor retention and learning gaps. To overcome this, KISS pioneered the Mother Tongue-Based Multilingual Education (MTB-MLE) initiative, ensuring that early education begins in a child’s mother tongue before gradually transitioning to other languages.

This innovative approach, first supported by the Bernard van Leer Foundation in 2013, has since been fully institutionalized within KISS’s education system. In 2022, the initiative received global recognition by winning the UNESCO King Sejong Literacy Prize for its outstanding contribution to literacy and cultural preservation.

Why This Matters

For tribal children, language barriers in classrooms often lead to disconnection, low confidence, and higher dropout rates. MTB-MLE directly addresses these challenges by:

Enhanced Learning

Education in familiar languages improves comprehension by 85%

Cultural Preservation

10 indigenous languages integrated into formal education

Bridging Gaps

Eliminating educational disparities caused by language barriers

Inclusive Environment

Students feel valued and represented in their learning journey

What We Do

The MTB-MLE programme at KISS integrates tribal languages and culture into the formal education system, ensuring students have a strong foundation before transitioning to regional and international languages.

Mother Tongue Instruction

  • Early-grade education is delivered in 10 indigenous dialects through a specially developed transition curriculum.

Gradual Transition

  • Students smoothly move to other languages, such as Odia, Hindi, and English, as they progress through school.

Culturally Relevant Curriculum

  • Teaching materials reflect tribal culture, making learning more relatable.

Hybrid Learning Modules

  • Both face-to-face and low-tech solutions (TV, radio, text messaging) are used to reach all learners.

University Collaboration

  • KISS-DU works with experts, researchers, and civil society to strengthen pedagogy and innovate teaching strategies.

India's First Tribal Language Lab

To strengthen MTB-MLE, KISS-DU established India’s first Language Lab for tribal languages in September 2018.

Revolutionary Innovation

Language Lab Facility

India's first Language Lab for tribal languages - a 30x20 ft air-conditioned facility enabling seamless language learning

Cultural Preservation

Mother Tongue Education

Students learning in their native dialects, preserving cultural identity while building academic foundation

Academic Excellence

Collaborative Learning

University-school collaboration fostering innovation in multilingual education pedagogy

Community Impact

Community Engagement

Empowering communities through inclusive education that respects linguistic diversity

Impact at a Glance

STUDENTS
25 k

receiving quality mother tongue education

TRIBAL DIALECTS
10

integrated into the early learning curriculum.

ALUMNI
40 k

empowered with our programmes

WINNER
2022

of UNESCO King Sejong Literacy Prize 

Explore Language Lab Initiatives at KISS

TRANSFORMING EDUCATION, ONE LANGUAGE AT A TIME

The MTB-MLE initiative at KISS is not just about teaching languages—it is about honouring heritage while opening doors to the future. By combining mother tongue instruction, modern pedagogies, and research-driven innovation, KISS ensures that tribal students learn with confidence, pride, and purpose.