International Mother Language Day
International Mother Language Day is a worldwide annual observance held on 21 February to promote awareness of linguistic and cultural diversity and to promote multilingualism.
First announced by UNESCO on 17 November 1999. International Mother Language Day is part of a broader initiative “to promote the preservation and protection of all languages used by peoples of the world”
International Mother Language Day 2024: Every year on February 21, International Mother Language Day is celebrated globally to promote linguistic and cultural diversity and to highlight the importance of preserving and promoting mother languages worldwide.
International Mother Language Day emphasizes the need to protect and promote indigenous languages, many of which are endangered, and to ensure that everyone has access to education and information in their mother tongue.
The theme of International Mother Language Day 2024 for this year is “Multilingual education – a pillar of learning and intergenerational learning” which highlights that the mother tongue languages are vital for inclusive education and safeguarding indigenous languages.
Initiating education in the mother tongue and gradually incorporating other languages helps in fostering effective learning.
All Africans are encouraged to celebrate their mother languages and embrace their linguistic diversity.
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