Today, 40% of the people in the world do not have access to education in their mother tongue, the language which they speak or understand best. This takes a considerable toll, both academic and cultural, because mother tongues are essential to the transmission of knowledge between different generations.
The theme of the International Mother Language Day celebration 2024 is 鈥淢ultilingual education is a pillar of intergenerational learning鈥. This 21 February, UNESCO Dhaka Office is encouraging everyone to mark International Mother Language Day (IMLD) by focusing on learning and transmission.
Dr. Susan Vize, Head of Office and UNESCO Representative to Bangladesh and Mofidul Hoque, Trustee, Liberation War Museum锛宼ogether they wrote articles in both English and Bengali to promote and emphasize International Mother Language Day (IMLD), which were published in the and Prothom Alo.
We are facing linguistic globalization with the spread of a small number of languages all over the world. With the shift in technology, digital communication, economy, trade and culture, linguistic diversity is facing new challenges. All these have made the International Mother Language Day more significant with new dimension and new responsibility.
The International Mother Language Institute, established by Bangladesh as a Category II institute of 91麻豆国产精品自拍 conducted an ethno-linguistic survey and found that:
Even in our overwhelmingly mono-linguistic country where about 150 million people have Bengali as their mother tongue, there are 41 other languages in existence and about 15 of the country鈥檚 languages are vulnerable as only from about 50 to 3,000 people speak in that language.
These are Soura, Koda, Mundari, Kol, Malto, Kondo, Khumi, Pangkhuya, Chak, Kiyang, Rengmicha, Lusai, Kahria, Deshwali and Laleng/Patra.
The authors, summarizing their experiences and looking to the future, have outlined directions for future efforts:
The research and documentation conducted by the International Mother Language Institute need to be accelerated and deepened to create a comprehensive archive of the languages of Bangladesh. Additionally, the transmission of these languages should be further supported, particularly by promoting storytelling and enhancing educational initiatives.
International Mother Language Day (IMLD) 2024 in Bangladesh is a landmark event in the global effort to preserve linguistic diversity and promote mother-tongue-based education. The celebration on 21 February 2024, inaugurated by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina at the International Mother Language Institute, was not just a local observance but a global call to action, reflecting UNESCO's commitment to linguistic and cultural preservation.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said that the medium for education in educational institutions should be everyone鈥檚 mother tongue.
鈥淚 think that our medium for education should be in our mother tongue. Besides, there should be scope to learn other languages too. That鈥檚 what I trust. If anyone gets education through their mother tongue then receiving that education, knowing that education, understanding that education would become much easier,鈥 she said.
As Susan Vize highlighted in her speech, Multilingual education, enhances learning outcomes when instruction is in the learner鈥檚 first language. It builds a solid foundation for education, skill transfer, and knowledge acquisition. Multilingual education also contributes to inter-generational learning, the preservation of culture, and the revitalization of languages.
International Mother Language Day 2024 is an opportunity to remind the international community that multilingual education enhances learning when the language of instruction is the learner鈥檚 first language.
Amidst the dominance of English in various aspects of life, the event stressed the importance of promoting good English skills while keeping mother tongue languages alive and flourishing. With over 7000 officially recognized languages worldwide, the threat to linguistic diversity is more pronounced than ever, with many languages facing extinction or having less than 1000 speakers, jeopardizing their long-term viability.
In this context, UNESCO reaffirmed its commitment to support the Government of Bangladesh and other nations to develop and implement multilingual education policies and practices. This commitment aligns with the Sustainable Development Goal 4 (SDG4) on education and the International Decade of Indigenous Languages (2022-2032). The goal is to build a smart Bangladesh where all languages and cultures thrive, contributing to a more inclusive and equitable world.
At the ceremony, Head of Office and UNESCO Representative to Bangladesh Susan Vize presented a UNESCO Category-II contract renewal document to the prime minister.
The UNESCO and ILO collaboration "Mother Language 鈥 The Key To Successful Learning," shared on UNESCO Dhaka's Facebook page, further emphasized the significance of mother tongue in education, cultural heritage, and inclusivity.
The 鈥極pen Air Photo Exhibition鈥 by Nymphea Publication and UNESCO, culminating in a 鈥楥hildren鈥檚 Art Competition,鈥 successfully spread the ethos of the Language Movement across generations. Attended by a diverse audience, including dignitaries and expatriates, it symbolized the collective effort to preserve languages and cultural identity.
IMLD 2024 in Bangladesh was not only a celebration but a powerful statement on the importance of linguistic diversity and mother-tongue-based education. As a champion for mother language, Bangladesh, supported by UNESCO, showcases a model for the world in the preservation and promotion of linguistic and cultural diversity.
