Botswana joined other countries this week in celebrating the International Mother Language Day. Botswana adopted February 21 as its National Languages Day, the day that the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation ( UNESCO) refers to as International Mother Language Day, and is celebrated globally. Globally the International Mother Language day was celebrated under the theme, ‘ Multilingual education – a necessity to transform education’ while in Botswana it was celebrated in Mmathethe under the theme ‘ My language, My pride’.

According to UNESCO, globally 40 percent of the population does not have access to an education in a language they speak or understand. But progress is being made in multilingual education with growing understanding of its importance, particularly in early schooling, and more commitment to its development in public life. International Mother Language Day therefore recognises that languages and multilingualism can advance inclusion, and the Sustainable Development Goals’ focus on leaving no one behind. UNESCO encourages and promotes multilingual education based on mother tongue or first language. It is a type of education that begins in the language that the learner masters most and then gradually introduce other languages.

This approach enables learners whose mother tongue is different from the language of instruction to bridge the gap between home and school, to discover the school environment in a familiar language, and thus, learn better. Multilingualism contributes to the development of inclusive societies that allow multiple cultures, worldviews and knowledge systems to coexist and cross- fertilise. It is a pity that in Botswana, according to the Minister of Youth, Gender, Sport and Culture, Tumiso Rakgare there is a decline in the use of local languages.

Apparently this is due to globalisation, urbanisation and development. We applaud government’s efforts in recognising the importance of introducing mother tongue as a mode of communication in primary schools.

The government of Botswana has deliberately taken a stand to introduce mother tongue languages in pre- schools and for Standards 1 - 2.

Credit must also go to the country’s opposition parties which for years have been campaigning for the introduction of mother tongue in education.

We support Minister Rakgare’s calls that there is a need to develop grammars, orthographies and to document local languages in both print and electronic media, as this will activate an interest in using and researching more on them.

The International Mother Language Day was proclaimed by UNESCO in November 1999. According to UNESCO, today there is growing awareness that languages play a vital role in development, in ensuring cultural diversity and intercultural dialogue, but also in strengthening co- operation and attaining quality education for all, in building inclusive knowledge societies and preserving cultural heritage, and in mobilising political will for applying the benefits of science and technology to sustainable development.