14th Mother Tongue Day:Mother tongues to be taught in schools

The 14th edition of the International Mother Tongue Day was celebrated in Cameroon on 25 February 2014 with authorities contemplating including some local languages into the school curriculum

By MorineNchekeTanyi in Yaounde

Effective teaching of mother tongues or local languages may begin in schools in the country this year. The revelation was made by the Minister of Basic Education, YoussoufaHadidjaAlim. She was presiding over the celebrations marking the 14th edition of the International Day of Mother Tongues in Cameroon, in Yaounde. Talking on the theme “Local languages and the sciences” the minister used the occasion to thank the government for her determination to promote the use of local languages especially among children and youths as this will help in their full development. “The mother tongue is essential for children’s education and development,” HadidjaAlim underscored.

                She noted that linguistic and cultural diversities are values that if wisely exploited will help strengthen unity in societies. The Minister emphasized the importance of all local languages and took the opportunity to urge parents to teach their kids their mother tongues at home. 

                The particularity of this year’s celebration was the participation of UNESCO, La Francophonie and OIF, who joined hands to launch the experimental teaching of local languages in schools. It was also disclosed that posters and logos of OIF, UNESCO and the Cameroon coat of arms would be produced with their inscriptions written in the different local languages.

                Pupils and students from some primary and secondary schools in Yaounde graced the ceremony with songs, poems and sketches in some local languages. Equally present were representatives of government departments in the Centre Region, the international community, and guests from different works of live.