British Council Calls for More Inclusive Language-Responsive Education Systems

British Council has launched an updated 2026 position paper advocating for language-responsive education systems that reflect learners’ linguistic realities and promote inclusive, equitable, and effective education. The paper emphasizes that there is no single language model suitable for all countries and encourages policymakers to adopt context-sensitive and evidence-based approaches to language in education.

The report highlights the importance of integrating language considerations into curriculum design, teaching practices, assessments, teacher training, and learning materials. While English remains important globally, the British Council stresses that students learn best when education systems also support familiar and local languages.

According to Michael Connolly, language-responsive policies help create inclusive classrooms and improve learning outcomes. The position paper is supported by a global literature review examining English-language education across diverse multilingual settings and aims to guide governments, educators, and international partners in developing more effective language policies.