The theme of this year’s International Mother Language Day (IMLD) is “Youth voices on multilingual education.” Celebrated on February 21, IMLD was formally established by UNESCO in 2002 to promote the preservation and protection of the world’s languages, and encourage the proliferation of education delivered through mother languages.
This year’s celebration coincides with a growing movement in the US to provide education in students’ mother language. However, according to UNESCO, “significant challenges remain, as 40% of learners worldwide still lack access to education in a language they understand best, with indigenous, migrant, and minority youth most affected. Addressing this gap requires education policies and practices that embed multilingual education at their core to promote inclusion, equity, and effective learning for all. By advancing concrete actions, sharing promising experiences, and fostering dialogue among young people, educators, and policymakers, global initiatives create spaces to exchange ideas and identify solutions that strengthen linguistic diversity in schools and communities worldwide.”
“Youth voices on multilingual education emphasizes that language is more than a means of communication: it is central to identity, learning, well-being and participation in society. The celebration underscores the importance of education systems that recognize and value every learner’s language to support inclusion and learning outcomes,” claims UNESCO’s website.
“On this International Mother Language Day, UNESCO is calling for investment in language transmission by placing young people at the heart of the solutions involved. Because linguistic diversity is a pillar of peace, dignity, and inclusion. And no voice should be missing from the story of our humanity,” said Khaled El-Enany, director-general of UNESCO.
For its part, Language Magazine is encouraging policymakers, leaders, parents, teachers, and students to consider how they can make their educational systems more welcoming to language-minority students.