Indonesia Marks International Mother Language Day with Youth-Focused Dialogue

Indonesia commemorated the International Mother Language Day with a week of activities beginning on 13 February and culminating in a main event held on 18 February in Jakarta. The event was organized by the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education and supported by UNESCO, highlighting the role of young people in shaping the future of multilingual education.

This year's commemoration emphasized youth voices in multilingual education. Language is central to identity, learning, well-being, and participation in society. Education systems that recognise and value every learner's language contribute to stronger inclusion and improved learning outcomes.

In line with this focus, Gunawan Zakki, National Professional Officer for Education at the UNESCO Regional Office in Jakarta, highlighted the active role of youth in safeguarding local languages.