Resumen de Home language-based instruction and students’ academic performance

Puskar R. Joshi

• This study explored the association of eighth-grade Nepalistudents’ schooling in mother tongue on their academicperformance using the multiple linear regression analysis. Datawere collected from four schools in Nepal that enrolled studentsfrom diverse linguistic backgrounds. Data includes students’home language background and test scores converted to GPA instandardized examinations in five core subjects as defined by theeighth-grade national curriculum in Nepal. As the current analysisrevealed, students with Nepali as the home language receivedsignificantly higher GPA than students who had a differentmother tongue, indicating a clear advantage of the medium ofinstruction in home language. Findings suggest that studentswho receive education in the mother tongue not only excel incore sciences but also in language arts, social sciences, and athird language, such as English as a foreign language. This studyconforms to international research that provides evidence of theacademic advantage of multilingual education. Yet, it is essentialto note that relatively small sample size, exploration of limitedhome languages, and moderate effect sizes of the relationshipssuggest the need for more robust research to generalize thefindings.