Detrimental and irrelevant’ to change (MBBS) curriculum's language !

IMA AP strongly opposing the retrograde and detrimental decision of Madhyapradesh govt’s decision to teach MBBS in hindi language.Probably  this will be emulated soon by other states also. The Uttar Pradesh government had also expressed a similar intent.

 NMC is expected to launch the syllabus for MBBS and Medical education in Hindi, Tamil and other regional languages soon. The commission is currently in talks with the Education Ministry's High Powered Committee for Promotion of Indian Languages.

 The State Government of Madhya Pradesh has announced introducing the same in the Gandhi Medical College, Bhopal from the next academic session i.e. from 2022-2023. Yesterday, Honorable union  home minister inaugurated the MBBS (in hindi) text books..

 Previously, the National Medical Commission (NMC) has said there is no plan to teach medicine courses in Hindi or any other regional language.The medical education regulator said it won’t amend norms to allow MBBS courses in languages other than English.

The High Powered Committee for Promotion of Indian Languages has initiated discussions with NMC, state medical colleges, medical universities and colleges for preparing the syllabus for medical education based on regional languages.

As per reports, Chamu Krishna Shastry, the chairman of this committee has also stated that the Vice Chancellor of Dr MGR Medical University in Tamil Nadu has already started preparing the glossary terms and definitions to introduce MBBS in Tamil.

Recently, the National Medical Commission, the epic body that regulates the medical education and practice in India, has recently been conducting medical education technology workshops to improve teachers and has devised a new curriculum to elevate the standards of medical education in India.  why all of a sudden ,the NMC has agreed for this retrograde step of teaching MBBS in regional languages?

 

Why IMA AP Opposing this move to teach MBBS in regional languages.

            1. Almost all reputable research papers and journals are published in English,. The dominance of English in international academic publications has increased manifolds during the last few decades. The vast majority of indexed science journals, including those previously published in other languages, have shifted to English. Journals prefer English to acquire a broader international authorship and readership and to reach higher impact.

2.  Big concerns about the inability of teachers to teach MBBS in Hindi or any other regional language.

 The teachers, by default, are trained to teach in English as they’ve also been taught in the same language. So, if the course has to be launched in Hindi, then the teachers will also have to be trained along with translating the entire syllabus, which is going to be a tedious process. As of now,there is huge dearth of teaching faculty in medical  colleges.

                                                                                   

Colleges may teach students from north India in Hindi but what about students who belong to the southern or north-eastern states? “In India, students migrate from one state to the other for medical education as the top institutes are scattered and situated across the country,”

 

4. Medical education in Hindi or any regional language has a longstanding disadvantage as the graduates have to get out and work wherever their services are required.

“It is only going to pull us down. Hindi as the medium of language can be added as an adjunct but to have the entire course completely in Hindi is going to be detrimental. MBBS is not a basic degree course as a student has to apply everything in situations that require life risks. Doctors cannot be held to serve only in one particular region and they would like to explore other opportunities. The graduates will also not be eligible to go out of India and pursue higher education, fellowship, or research,” 

 

5. For instance, two practicing doctors have completed their medical education in Tamil and Telugu, respectively. The nursing staff is from northeast India and the patient is from Karnataka. Then, how will the system communicate with each other if not through a common language, i.e. English? Medicine study in a regional language is common in Russia, China, and some European countries, but it might not be recognized by countries such as the US or UK where opportunities and technology are better and ever-evolving,”

Except in eastern Europe and China, medicine is taught in English. English is a global language, a language of the internet. By hastily implementing regional languages in medical education, we might dilute the quality of medical education, intensify the language barriers and trigger divisive emotions. 

This strategy might also seriously limit the options of students seeking to study in the western countries. As an example, students have to take The International English Language Testing System [IELTS] test – the world’s most popular English language proficiency test for higher education and global migration. 

6. It may be union govt’s ulterior motive to limit the Indian doctors to their native regions and bring down the modern medicine to the level of AYUSH.

7. English is required for professional competence; it is the international language of science and medicine. There is also a new concept called English for Medical Purposes. So, taking up medical education in a regional language will always be a challenge for the faculty and medical students at large.

English is the language of science, aviation, computers, diplomacy and tourism. Last but not least, it is the language of international communication, the media and the internet. Whether it is for professional or personal reasons, understanding the importance of English will help the students to reach their goals.

While universal language such as English allows doctors to work across geographies within India, as well as outside, regional languages will create obstruction in migration. “The new language implementation would rather be harmful.

Although the teaching learning process can be conducted in bilingual manner, the core structure should be in a language that the world recognizes.

 

To safe guard the interests of the medical students, medical fraternity, modern medicine and healthcare, IMA AP strongly opposing this retrograde move of states to teach MBBS in regional languages.

Its right time for IMA to express and convey our serious concern with appropriate authorities and chalk-out plan of action 

 ప్రాంతీయ భాషలలో వైద్య విద్యా బోధనా దేశప్రజల ఆరోగ్యం తో చెలగాటమే! వైద్యుల భవిష్యత్ ను నాశనం చెయ్యడమే తప్ప మరో ప్రయోజనం లేదు. కనీసం ప్రాంతీయ భాషలలో బోధించడానికి అవసరమైన మెడికల్ టీచర్స్, బుక్స్ లేని పరిస్థితులలో ఇలాంటి నిర్ణయం తీసుకోవడం అనర్థదాయకం.  ఉన్నత చదువుల కోసం వేరే ప్రాంతాలకు, విదేశాలకు వెళ్లడానికి  వైద్యుల కు అవకాశాలు ఉండవు . అవకాశం వచ్చినా  అక్కడ ఇంగిలీషు కరిక్యులమ్ ని ఫాలో అవ్వడం కష్టం . 

 భిన్న ప్రాంతాల వైద్యులు,నర్సులు పనిచేసే హాస్పిటల్స్ లో ఒక కామం భాషలో తర్ఫీదు పొందిన వారే ఒక టీమ్ లాగా వర్క్ చేయగలరు. ఇలా భిన్న ప్రాంతీయ భాషలలో వైద్యాన్ని, నర్సింగ్ ను అభ్యసించిన వారు ఒక టీమ్ లా పనిచేయలేక పోవడం వలన చివరకు నష్టపోయేది రోగులే . 

 ఎవరూ  లబ్దిపొందని  ఇలాంటి తిరోగమన  నిర్ణయాల వలన వైద్యుల భవిష్యత్చ మాత్రమేకాదు దేశప్రజల ఆరోగ్యానికే ముప్పు వాటిల్లే ప్రమాదం ఉంది.