EdTech’s potential for effective mother tongue education for the Marma community

We looked at whether technology could help address the barriers to Marma mother-tongue education 

Mother-tongue education remains out of reach for Marma children in the Chittagong Hill Tracts, despite the government’s effort to include this approach in its 2010 National Education Policy and to distribute Marma-language textbooks since 2017. As a result, Marma speakers are at a disadvantage at school, getting lower grades and dropping out more than the national average. A 2024 study sought to understand why, by digging deeper into the challenges Marma teachers in Khagrachari District encounter in implementing mother-tongue education. It explored how technology in general and language AI in particular could help overcome some of these issues and help improve educational outcomes for Marma children. 

Researchers heard from Marma teachers at both pre-primary and primary level, working in multilingual and monolingual government schools in urban and rural locations. They also interviewed other stakeholders, including education officers, civil society experts and Marma textbook authors from the National Curriculum and Textbook Board.

We concluded that a multifaceted approach combining accessible EdTech solutions, literacy and digital skills training, curriculum adjustments, and community involvement could help improve educational outcomes for Marma children through effective mother-tongue education.

We identified multiple barriers to Marma-language education

• Low literacy in Marma: Marma is primarily an oral language, and many speakers don’t read or write it. Even teachers are largely unfamiliar with the standardized written form, making it hard for them to teach reading and writing skills and to make use of the resources available. 
• Preference for Bangla: both parents and teachers prioritize learning Bangla as a route to economic opportunity over formal study of Marma.
• Technology barriers: a shortage of resources, poor connectivity and infrastructure problems limit access to digital tools, especially in rural areas. Many teachers need training to use the available EdTech solutions effectively.
• Issues in the education system: Marma education materials are not part of the curriculum and school schedules for the primary grades don’t make time for Marma language teaching. 

EdTech can be part of a holistic solution

Integrate tailored language-enabled EdTech solutions 

• Language technology is a powerful tool that can help both teachers and students learn and improve proficiency in Marma. Features like offline access, text-to-speech, and audiovisual content can enhance engagement and learning.
• Collaboration with local EdTech developers could yield design culturally appropriate tools geared to the needs of Marma students and teachers.

Enhance teacher training and support

• Provide comprehensive training for teachers in Marma literacy and ICT skills, focusing on effectively using digital tools for mother-tongue education.
• Incorporate language technology into existing digital platforms to support teachers to access specialized Marma training.   
• Offer targeted training of trainers programs for teachers with strong Marma literacy to support skills transfer within the community.

Provide policy support and space in the curriculum 

• Integrate dedicated Marma language classes into the school curriculum with a scheduled time allocation.
• Increase support from educational authorities and policymakers to ensure that mother-tongue education policies are implemented effectively at the school level.

Build community awareness and involvement

• Engage local community leaders and parents in awareness programs to emphasize the importance of mother-tongue education and encourage support for Marma language education.
• Foster partnerships with local organizations and stakeholders to develop sustainable initiatives that can continuously support mother-tongue education in the Marma community.
• Partner in the EdTech sector and with local organizations to promote initiatives and ensure ownership and sustainability.