The Mizoram government has decided to introduce a Hindi-speaking day in all schools across the state as part of its efforts to improve students’ ability to speak and understand the language. The initiative will be implemented once every month and will apply to both government and private schools.
Announcing the decision, School Education Minister Vanlalthansai said the programme will be carried out under the supervision of the state School Education Department. On the designated day, students and teachers will be encouraged to speak and converse only in Hindi during school hours.
Addressing a press conference, the minister said the main aim of the initiative is to improve spoken Hindi, especially among students from rural and remote areas. He pointed out that Mizoram, being a hilly state largely inhabited by the Mizo tribal community, has very limited exposure to Hindi in daily life. At present, Mizo and English are the official languages used for administration and education in the state.
Vanlalthansai said many students from Mizoram face difficulties when they travel outside the state for higher studies, competitive examinations, or employment, where knowledge of Hindi is often necessary. Due to a lack of regular practice, students find it hard to communicate, which sometimes affects their confidence and opportunities. The Hindi-speaking day, he said, is meant to address this gap in a simple and practical way.
To support the initiative, the government plans to provide proper training to Hindi teachers so that they can help students speak the language more fluently. Special attention will also be given to students who have little or no knowledge of Hindi, ensuring they receive extra guidance and support.
The minister said the government will soon issue a formal notification making the Hindi-speaking day mandatory for all schools. The syllabus and learning materials for spoken Hindi will be prepared by the State Council of Educational Research and Training, keeping the focus on conversation rather than written exams.
At the same time, the state government is also planning to introduce a home language day in all English-medium schools. This move is aimed at encouraging students to use and value their mother tongues and local languages.
Vanlalthansai expressed concern over the increasing use of English, even within homes and local communities, which he said is slowly pushing indigenous languages into the background. He said the government is committed to protecting and promoting local languages alongside learning national and global languages.
The minister also announced that all teachers appointed under the state government will be required to learn at least five languages within five years of their recruitment. This requirement, he said, is in line with provisions under the Teacher Eligibility Test (TET) and directions of the Supreme Court.
