Aniket Deshmukh
Independent Researcher
Maharashtra, India
Abstract
Over the past two decades, the choice of medium of instruction (MoI) has emerged as a critical determinant of educational equity and effectiveness in multilingual societies. In Tamil Nadu, India, the expansion of private English‐medium institutions alongside a strong tradition of mother‐tongue (Tamil) education has generated vigorous policy debates regarding academic outcomes, social mobility, and cultural preservation. This longitudinal, comparative study analyzes standardized examination data from Grades 5, 8, and 10 across a stratified sample of 120 schools (60 English‐medium, 60 Tamil‐medium) for three cohorts (2000, 2009, and 2018). Employing descriptive statistics, independent‐samples t‐tests, repeated‐measures ANOVA, and hierarchical multiple regression, we assess differences in mean scores for language (English or Tamil), mathematics, and science, while controlling for socioeconomic status (SES), urban–rural location, teacher qualifications, and school resources. The results reveal a persistent and substantial advantage for English‐medium students in language proficiency (mean difference > 10 points in 2000; narrowing to ~ 7 points by 2018, p < .001), whereas initial gaps in mathematics and science (6–8 points in 2000) diminish to non‐significance by 2018 (p > .05). Regression analyses attribute roughly 8 percent of variance in language scores to MoI (ΔR² = .08, p < .001) but only 2 percent or less in STEM subjects. Interaction effects indicate that improvements in Tamil‐medium pedagogy—via targeted teacher training and curriculum standardization—have driven STEM convergence, whereas language proficiency gaps reflect deep‐seated advantages in English‐medium environments. We discuss implications for bilingual education models, teacher professional development, and language‐policy design, arguing that a balanced, context‐sensitive approach can optimize both cognitive outcomes and cultural continuity.
Keywords
Academic Performance, Medium of Instruction, English‐Medium Schools, Mother‐Tongue Education, Tamil Nadu
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