UNESCO: 40% of the World’s Population Lacks Education in Their Mother Tongue
February 21, 2025 – The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) has raised concerns that 40% of the global population does not receive education in their mother tongue, highlighting the growing threat to linguistic diversity.
Marking International Mother Language Day, UNESCO, in a statement on its official X (formerly Twitter) account, warned that linguistic diversity is increasingly under threat as more languages face extinction. The organization emphasized that this loss not only affects cultural heritage but also limits access to quality education for millions worldwide.
The organization emphasized that linguistic diversity represents the history, identity, and knowledge of nations and must be preserved and strengthened.
UNESCO has called on countries to make efforts to promote linguistic diversity and strengthen education in mother tongues
International Mother Language Day, observed on February 21 each year, was established by UNESCO in 1999 to promote linguistic and cultural diversity. The date commemorates the 1952 protests in Bangladesh, where students lost their lives demanding the recognition of Bengali as an official language. Since then, the day has served as a global reminder of the need to protect and preserve native languages.
UNESCO’s latest statement highlights the urgency of this issue, reinforcing the need for stronger measures to ensure the survival and development of linguistic diversity worldwide.
