International Mother Language Day 2023: History and significance
PTC News Desk: Every year on February 21, International Mother Language Day is celebrated globally, it is to celebrate and honor the importance of preserving and promoting the use of mother languages around the world. It marks the 25th anniversary of International Mother Language Day.
Established by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) in 1999, International Mother Language Day has grown into an important part of the global effort to preserve cultural heritage and promote linguistic diversity.
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Significance and Theme:
This year’s theme is ‘Mother Language in Education: A Key to Inclusive and Equitable Quality Education’. It shows and enhances the value of mother language-based education for ensuring the quality and equity of education for all children. By providing the opportunity to learn their mother tongue, children are more likely to remain engaged in the educational process, as well as to gain a better understanding of the language and culture of their society. UNESCO has launched an online platform, Play Your Language.
This platform provides resources for educators and learners to explore and celebrate the richness of global languages. It includes a wide range of activities, such as interactive games, videos, and quizzes to help learners develop proficiency in their mother language.
History:
International Mother Language Day was first announced by the General Conference of the UNESCO in November 1999 but it was formally recognised by the UN General Assembly in its resolution of 2002. It was Bangladesh that had put forward this idea to celebrate one’s mother language.
- With inputs from agencies
