International Mother Language Day is observed on February 21 every year. The United Nations-designated day recognises that languages and multilingualism can advance inclusion, and the Sustainable Development Goals’ focus on leaving no one behind.
Bangladesh was instrumental in setting up the International Mother Language Day and later approved at the 1999 UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization) General Conference. Thus the first International Mother Language Day was observed worldwide in 2000.
The day signifies how an intergovernmental body like UNESCO believes in cultural and linguistic diversity for sustainable societies. According to UNESCO, within its mandate for peace, it works to preserve the differences in cultures and languages that foster tolerance and respect for diversity.
Linguistic diversity is increasingly coming under threat as more and more languages disappear. The UN reports that globally 40 per cent of the population does not have access to an education in a language they speak or understand. Those native languages are promoted through days like this, and efforts to preserve them are made.
With a growing understanding of its importance, particularly in early schooling, and more commitment to its development in public life, progress is being made in mother tongue-based multilingual education.
Theme of International Mother Language Day 2022
According to the UN, the 2022 International Mother Language Day theme is ‘Using technology for multilingual learning: Challenges and opportunities’. The UN mentioned in its statement that this year’s theme raises the potential role of technology to advance multilingual education and support the development of quality teaching and learning for all.
The experiences of COVID-19, especially in education, highlighted how technology is essential for distance learning. The UN recognises that technology can address some of the greatest challenges in education. Hence with this year’s theme, efforts are being made to stress how multilingual education based on mother tongue is a key component of inclusion in education.
