Context:

The 25th anniversary of International Mother Language Day was recently celebrated at UNESCO Headquarters in Paris. In honor of this important anniversary, UNESCO released a new report titled "Languages matter: Global guidance on multilingual education," which underscores the critical need to integrate multilingualism into global education systems.

Key findings of the report: 

• The findings of the report are both enlightening and alarming. According to UNESCO, 40% of people worldwide do not have access to education in the language they speak and understand fluently.
• This gap is even more pronounced in low- and middle-income countries, where up to 90% of individuals lack this access, impacting over a quarter of a billion learners globally. The report brings attention to the language barrier many children and young people face when trying to receive an education, which can greatly hinder their academic success and overall development.
• As global migration continues to rise, linguistic diversity is becoming an increasingly common reality. Classrooms across the world are now home to learners from a wide variety of language backgrounds, making it imperative that education systems adapt to accommodate these linguistic differences. Furthermore, over 31 million displaced youth are facing significant language barriers in their educational journey, further exacerbating the issue.

Recommendations for Multilingual Education

The report provides practical recommendations for countries to overcome these challenges and develop educational systems that are truly inclusive. 

Key recommendations include:

• Context-specific language policies: Nations should develop educational language policies tailored to their unique linguistic contexts, ensuring that language transition processes are supported by curriculum adjustments and appropriate teaching materials.
• Teacher training: Training should equip teachers with the skills necessary to support multilingual classrooms, ensuring proficiency in both the home language and a second language. Teacher deployment should match the teacher's language fluency with the language of instruction, especially in diverse linguistic settings.
• Support systems beyond schools: It is essential to create strong support systems outside the classroom to ensure the success of multilingual education policies. This includes fostering collaboration between school leaders, parents, and communities to build bridges between different linguistic groups.
• Focus on school leadership: The recruitment and training of school leaders should emphasize inclusive leadership, ensuring that educators and school administrators can effectively support multilingual students and foster inclusive environments that cater to diverse linguistic needs.

Way forward:

With the release of the "Languages matter" report, UNESCO has provided a roadmap for nations to follow in their efforts to create inclusive and equitable education systems. As we celebrate the 25th anniversary of International Mother Language Day, we are reminded that linguistic diversity is a strength, and by promoting and protecting mother languages, we are investing in a more inclusive, understanding, and culturally rich world for future generations.