The Department of Education (DepEd) on Monday, Feb. 21, underscored the importance of cultural and linguistic diversity for sustainable societies in time for the celebration of this year’s International Mother Language Day (ILMD).
DepEd, through the International Cooperation Office, is celebrating the 2022 ILMB through a series of posts under the theme, “2022 International Mother Language Day: Preservation of Traditional Knowledge and Culture in a Sustainable Way.”
“The existence of many languages is in danger since some are becoming extinct,” DepEd said in a Facebook post.
Citing United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), DepEd noted that 40 percent of the global population has “little or no access” to education in their first language.
Given this, DepEd noted that it is “important to increasing advancement in vernacular language teaching to understand the importance of mother tongue-based education system.”
Through a series of posts, DepEd hopes that there will be a virtual discussion of mother language advocates and professionals on the progress being made in mother tongue-based multilingual education with the growing understanding of its importance, particularly in early schooling, and more commitment to its development in public life.
“Today, we increase our awareness on the importance of preservation of the Mother Language along with its cultural and intellectual heritage and we also raise our awareness on the importance of cultural and linguistic diversity for sustainable societies,” DepEd added.
Meanwhile, DepEd also enjoined the stakeholders to join the webinar organized by UNESCO in celebration of the 2022 IMLD later at 6 p.m.
With the theme “Using technology for multilingual learning: Challenges and opportunities,” DepEd said that this year's IMLD webinar will discuss the potential role of technology to advance multilingual education and support the development of quality teaching and learning for all, by bringing together a range of key stakeholders who are drivers of change to foster learning environments that support multilingual teaching and learning.