Africa-Press – Eritrea. Every year on 21 February, the world commemorates International Mother Language Day (IMLD), a day dedicated to celebrating linguistic and cultural diversity, promoting multilingualism, and safeguarding endangered languages. Language is not just a means of communication; it is vital to identity, heritage, and education. Concerning Eritrea, where numerous languages coexist, the role of the mother tongue in education is particularly significant. The following paragraphs delve into the impact of mother tongue instruction within Eritrean schools, highlighting its social importance and pivotal role in promoting inclusive, practical learning.
Delving into the case of Eritrea
Eritrea is a nation blessed with a unique blend of beautiful cultures and rich cultural diversity. It has nine ethnolinguistic groups, all of which contribute to the country’s vibrant linguistic mosaic. This diversity is a cornerstone of Eritrea’s national identity and it continues to be treasured as one of its greatest assets and strengths.
Historically, foreign ruling powers have implemented a range of language policies in Eritrea. For example, at one point, Amharic, the language of the occupying forces, was designated as the official language, while widely spoken native languages in Eritrea, such as Tigrigna, were banned. However, with the onset of independence in the 1990s, Eritrea adopted a pluralistic language policy rooted in the Eritrean People’s Liberation Front (EPLF) principles, which had long championed linguistic inclusivity. To a large extent, this policy approach has recognized and fully embraced all languages in the country as equal, with no single language given special status. Instead, each language is valued for its intrinsic role in shaping Eritrea’s cultural identity.
Despite various challenges, this policy approach has played a crucial role in safeguarding individual and collective linguistic rights while preserving Eritrea’s diversity, culture, values, and indigenous knowledge systems. Furthermore, it underscores the nation’s unwavering commitment to social justice, non-discrimination, and promoting peace, tolerance, and mutual respect. This commitment is especially significant in a regional and global landscape bedevilled by the dark horrors of ethnic strife and conflict.
Mother language and multilingualism in education
One area that reflects the tangible benefits of Eritrea’s multilingual approach is education. Since independence, the country has made substantial progress in expanding enrolment and improving literacy rates. Notably, school enrolment across all levels has nearly tripled since independence (now hovering at approximately 700,000), while youth literacy now exceeds 93 percent. Although several factors have driven these advancements, one of the main contributors has been Eritrea’s mother language policy.
Eritrea ensures that all children, regardless of background, can receive elementary education in their mother language. Spearheaded by the Ministry of Education (MoE), this policy mandates that students be instructed in their native language from pre-primary through elementary school, with other languages gradually introduced into the teaching-learning process at later stages. This approach bridges the gap between home and school, allowing students to engage with their education in a familiar language, accelerating learning, improving comprehension, and enhancing academic performance. Additionally, it has been instrumental in boosting students’ confidence and self-esteem, fostering a strong sense of self-worth – which a large body of research finds is an essential factor in a child’s emotional and psychological development. In recent years, Eritrea’s MoE, in close collaboration with global partners (such as the GPE), has trained numerous teachers nationwide to strengthen their expertise in mother language education. Over one million textbooks and teachers’ guides—in nine languages—have also been printed and distributed. A public language committee has also been established to oversee the effective implementation of mother language instruction and to raise public awareness about its significance.
Essential to sustain progress and foster a more inclusive future
Eritrea’s mother language policy has been instrumental in expanding educational access, improving inclusivity and quality, reducing repetition and dropout rates, and enhancing literacy and academic outcomes. By empowering all learners in Eritrea to participate in society fully and encouraging stronger family and community engagement, this approach has reinforced Eritrea’s commitment to equitable and high-quality education. As the country continues its efforts to improve learning accessibility and outcomes, maintaining a strong focus on mother language-based and multilingual education will be essential to sustaining progress and fostering a more inclusive future.
Every year on 21 February, the world commemorates International Mother Language Day (IMLD), a day dedicated to celebrating linguistic and cultural diversity, promoting multilingualism, and safeguarding endangered languages. Language is not just a means of communication; it is vital to identity, heritage, and education. Concerning Eritrea, where numerous languages coexist, the role of the mother tongue in education is particularly significant. The following paragraphs delve into the impact of mother tongue instruction within Eritrean schools, highlighting its social importance and pivotal role in promoting inclusive, practical learning.
Delving into the case of Eritrea
Eritrea is a nation blessed with a unique blend of beautiful cultures and rich cultural diversity. It has nine ethnolinguistic groups, all of which contribute to the country’s vibrant linguistic mosaic. This diversity is a cornerstone of Eritrea’s national identity and it continues to be treasured as one of its greatest assets and strengths.
Historically, foreign ruling powers have implemented a range of language policies in Eritrea. For example, at one point, Amharic, the language of the occupying forces, was designated as the official language, while widely spoken native languages in Eritrea, such as Tigrigna, were banned. However, with the onset of independence in the 1990s, Eritrea adopted a pluralistic language policy rooted in the Eritrean People’s Liberation Front (EPLF) principles, which had long championed linguistic inclusivity. To a large extent, this policy approach has recognized and fully embraced all languages in the country as equal, with no single language given special status. Instead, each language is valued for its intrinsic role in shaping Eritrea’s cultural identity.
Despite various challenges, this policy approach has played a crucial role in safeguarding individual and collective linguistic rights while preserving Eritrea’s diversity, culture, values, and indigenous knowledge systems. Furthermore, it underscores the nation’s unwavering commitment to social justice, non-discrimination, and promoting peace, tolerance, and mutual respect. This commitment is especially significant in a regional and global landscape bedevilled by the dark horrors of ethnic strife and conflict.
Mother language and multilingualism in education
One area that reflects the tangible benefits of Eritrea’s multilingual approach is education. Since independence, the country has made substantial progress in expanding enrolment and improving literacy rates. Notably, school enrolment across all levels has nearly tripled since independence (now hovering at approximately 700,000), while youth literacy now exceeds 93 percent. Although several factors have driven these advancements, one of the main contributors has been Eritrea’s mother language policy.
Eritrea ensures that all children, regardless of background, can receive elementary education in their mother language. Spearheaded by the Ministry of Education (MoE), this policy mandates that students be instructed in their native language from pre-primary through elementary school, with other languages gradually introduced into the teaching-learning process at later stages. This approach bridges the gap between home and school, allowing students to engage with their education in a familiar language, accelerating learning, improving comprehension, and enhancing academic performance. Additionally, it has been instrumental in boosting students’ confidence and self-esteem, fostering a strong sense of self-worth – which a large body of research finds is an essential factor in a child’s emotional and psychological development. In recent years, Eritrea’s MoE, in close collaboration with global partners (such as the GPE), has trained numerous teachers nationwide to strengthen their expertise in mother language education. Over one million textbooks and teachers’ guides—in nine languages—have also been printed and distributed. A public language committee has also been established to oversee the effective implementation of mother language instruction and to raise public awareness about its significance.
Essential to sustain progress and foster a more inclusive future
Eritrea’s mother language policy has been instrumental in expanding educational access, improving inclusivity and quality, reducing repetition and dropout rates, and enhancing literacy and academic outcomes. By empowering all learners in Eritrea to participate in society fully and encouraging stronger family and community engagement, this approach has reinforced Eritrea’s commitment to equitable and high-quality education. As the country continues its efforts to improve learning accessibility and outcomes, maintaining a strong focus on mother language-based and multilingual education will be essential to sustaining progress and fostering a more inclusive future.
Every year on 21 February, the world commemorates International Mother Language Day (IMLD), a day dedicated to celebrating linguistic and cultural diversity, promoting multilingualism, and safeguarding endangered languages. Language is not just a means of communication; it is vital to identity, heritage, and education. Concerning Eritrea, where numerous languages coexist, the role of the mother tongue in education is particularly significant. The following paragraphs delve into the impact of mother tongue instruction within Eritrean schools, highlighting its social importance and pivotal role in promoting inclusive, practical learning.
Delving into the case of Eritrea
Eritrea is a nation blessed with a unique blend of beautiful cultures and rich cultural diversity. It has nine ethnolinguistic groups, all of which contribute to the country’s vibrant linguistic mosaic. This diversity is a cornerstone of Eritrea’s national identity and it continues to be treasured as one of its greatest assets and strengths.
Historically, foreign ruling powers have implemented a range of language policies in Eritrea. For example, at one point, Amharic, the language of the occupying forces, was designated as the official language, while widely spoken native languages in Eritrea, such as Tigrigna, were banned. However, with the onset of independence in the 1990s, Eritrea adopted a pluralistic language policy rooted in the Eritrean People’s Liberation Front (EPLF) principles, which had long championed linguistic inclusivity. To a large extent, this policy approach has recognized and fully embraced all languages in the country as equal, with no single language given special status. Instead, each language is valued for its intrinsic role in shaping Eritrea’s cultural identity.
Despite various challenges, this policy approach has played a crucial role in safeguarding individual and collective linguistic rights while preserving Eritrea’s diversity, culture, values, and indigenous knowledge systems. Furthermore, it underscores the nation’s unwavering commitment to social justice, non-discrimination, and promoting peace, tolerance, and mutual respect. This commitment is especially significant in a regional and global landscape bedevilled by the dark horrors of ethnic strife and conflict.
Mother language and multilingualism in education
One area that reflects the tangible benefits of Eritrea’s multilingual approach is education. Since independence, the country has made substantial progress in expanding enrolment and improving literacy rates. Notably, school enrolment across all levels has nearly tripled since independence (now hovering at approximately 700,000), while youth literacy now exceeds 93 percent. Although several factors have driven these advancements, one of the main contributors has been Eritrea’s mother language policy.
Eritrea ensures that all children, regardless of background, can receive elementary education in their mother language. Spearheaded by the Ministry of Education (MoE), this policy mandates that students be instructed in their native language from pre-primary through elementary school, with other languages gradually introduced into the teaching-learning process at later stages. This approach bridges the gap between home and school, allowing students to engage with their education in a familiar language, accelerating learning, improving comprehension, and enhancing academic performance. Additionally, it has been instrumental in boosting students’ confidence and self-esteem, fostering a strong sense of self-worth – which a large body of research finds is an essential factor in a child’s emotional and psychological development. In recent years, Eritrea’s MoE, in close collaboration with global partners (such as the GPE), has trained numerous teachers nationwide to strengthen their expertise in mother language education. Over one million textbooks and teachers’ guides—in nine languages—have also been printed and distributed. A public language committee has also been established to oversee the effective implementation of mother language instruction and to raise public awareness about its significance.
Essential to sustain progress and foster a more inclusive future
Eritrea’s mother language policy has been instrumental in expanding educational access, improving inclusivity and quality, reducing repetition and dropout rates, and enhancing literacy and academic outcomes. By empowering all learners in Eritrea to participate in society fully and encouraging stronger family and community engagement, this approach has reinforced Eritrea’s commitment to equitable and high-quality education. As the country continues its efforts to improve learning accessibility and outcomes, maintaining a strong focus on mother language-based and multilingual education will be essential to sustaining progress and fostering a more inclusive future.
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