What Effect Does Learning in a Home Language Have on Reading Skills?

The article discussess the benefits of mother tongue instruction in early childhood education and the challenges faced by policymakers in developing countries. Children who start learning in their mother tongue tend to perform better academically, demonstrating a deeper understanding of the subject matter and developing superior comprehension skills compared to their peers who start their education in a second language. However, transitioning from learning in a mother tongue to a second language can be daunting for students, and evidence on the optimal transition point is limited. Policymakers must navigate the demand for education in international languages while considering the economic implications of language proficiency. The article also mentions the need for more research in linguistically diverse settings.