Paris, 21 February 2022 (TDI): Today, the world speaks around seven thousand languages. It is a matter of human identity and fundamental right to preserve these languages and celebrate mother language day.
Bangladesh initiated the idea to celebrate the day of Mother languages. As a result, the 1999 UNESCO General Conference approved the idea to celebrate the day.
According to UNESCO, it is important to protect linguistic and cultural diversity for sustainable societies. Along these lines, the mandate of UNESCO asks to protect the difference in languages and cultures.
Besides, it is also vital to foster peace, respect, and tolerance for others. But, linguistic diversity is threatened due to the disappearance of languages.
Internationally, forty percent of the population is not provided education in their mother language. However, many progressive steps are being taken to develop mother tongue-based multilingual education.
Nevertheless, there is a growing understanding of the significance of education in the mother tongue around the globe. In particular, initiatives are taken at the early school level to carve its impacts in public life.
Globally, multicultural and multilingual societies exist through varied languages that preserve and transmit traditional knowledge. Undoubtedly, it is the only sustainable way to preserves cultures and societies.
Message of the Director-General of UNESCO
In this regard, the message of Audrey Azoulay, Director-General of UNESCO, informs that technology provides different and new modes to protect linguistic diversity.
She further reiterated that these modes or tools not only facilitate the analysis and spread of linguistic diversity but its recording as well.
The Director-General of UNESCO further comments that technology enables local dialects to become a part of shared heritage. But, the internet poses a threat of linguistic uniformization as well.
Therefore, Audrey Azoulay states that technology will help to preserve plurilingualism as long as the people strive for it.
International Mother Language Day and 2022 theme
International Mother Language Day 22 is celebrated across the world on February 21. This year, the theme is “Using Technology for Multilingual learning: Challenges and Opportunities.”
It is focused on multilingual education to provide the development of quality teaching and learning for all. In this context, the role of teachers and technologies for promoting quality multilingual teaching is crucial. It also facilitates the sustainable development of societies.
Undoubtedly, technology has the strength to address the challenges of today’s education. It fastens efforts for equity and inclusion which is necessary for lifelong learning. Moreover, multilingual education is the core element of inclusivity and equity.
During the pandemic situation, many countries employed technology-based education in schools. A recent survey of UNESCO, UNICEF, WORLD BANK, and OECD showed that ninety-six percent of high-income countries facilitated online platforms for at least one education level.
It is pertinent to note that around fifty-eight percent of low-income countries employed online modes of education. However, the low-income countries employed broadcast media such as television and radio for the purpose.
Similarly, teachers lacked skills and equipment for distance learning programs. Certainly, online platforms require internet access, accessible materials, human support, and adapted content.
SDG 4
Eventually, it reflects SDG 4 as well which focuses on inclusive and quality education learning for all. Further, SDG goal 4 reflects ten targets which include steps for quality education for all. In particular, it emphasizes Target 4.6.
In brief, target 4.6 explains the idea of universal literacy and numeracy. It strategizes the contemporary understanding of literacy. Subsequently, the future aim suggests that all adults and young must achieve functional and numeral literacy.
In this matter, UNESCO also supports multilingual education of the indigenous people. It contributes to the Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues along with the Indigenous Fellowship of OHCHR and UNESCO. This is important for the development of indigenous people and their mother languages.
