Vietnam responds to Int’l Mother Language Day 2013
Hanoi , February 21 (VNA) – The Ministry of Education and Training,
the UNICEF and UNESCO offices in Vietnam jointly held a ceremony in
Hanoi on February 21 in response to the International Mother Language
Day 2013.
Speaking at the ceremony, Deputy Minister of Education and Training
Nguyen Thi Nghia emphasised the importance of the mother language,
which, with its communication, information and education functions,
contributes to the development of each individual and the whole
community.
“We encourage teaching in the mother
tongue, which facilitates the fight against illiteracy and contributes
to the quality of education,” UNESCO Director-General Irina Bokova says
in her message on the day. She calls on all UNESCO partners, authors
and teachers all over the world, in universities, the UNESCO chairs and
Associated Schools to work together to promote the importance of
linguistic and cultural diversity and of education in the mother
tongue.
Participants at the event shared experience in
using the mother-tongue language in improving the quality of education
and the living standards and welfare for children in particular and the
community in general.
Vietnam boasts experience in
using the mother language in the teaching and learning of ethnic
minority students. With the UNICEF support, the Ministry of Education
and Training has been implementing an initiative on bilingual education
based on the mother language since 2008 in some kindergartens and
primary schools in Lao Cai, Gia Lai and Tra Vinh provinces.
First launched in 1999, the International Mother Language Day has been
observed every February 21 since 2000 to raise awareness of linguistic
and cultural diversity and multilingualism.-VNA