The Education, Culture, Research and Technology Ministry had launched the Local Language Revitalization Program that was part of the 17th episode of Freedom in Learning.
“The revitalization of regional languages should be conducted on account of the fact that there are 718 local languages in Indonesia, most of which are in danger of extinction and (are in a) critical (condition),” Education, Culture, Research, and Technology Minister Nadiem Anwar Makarim said here on Tuesday.
Makarim noted that currently, several local language speakers neither used the language nor passed it on to the next generation, thereby bringing it to the brink of extinction.
Makarim stated that the program aimed to be dynamic and adaptive as well as encourage regeneration and creativity in the use of its language.
The program focuses on 1,491 local language-speaking communities, 29,370 teachers, 17,955 school principals, 1,175 supervisors, and 1.5 million students across 15,236 schools.
The ministry will heavily involve families of the communities of local language speakers, maestros, and language and literary activists in the preparation process of learning models, materials in the curriculum, and formulation of linguistic and literary local content.
They will also train teachers to adopt values, such as flexibility, innovation, creativity, and student-focused fun; adapting learning models according to the conditions of each school; as well as building creativity through language and literature workshops.
The minister stated that the students could choose materials according to their interests and have a sense of pride in using the local language during their communication. They were also encouraged to publish their works.
Home Affairs Minister, Muhammad Tito Karnavian, stated that the language reflects in the civilization and culture and traditions that should be preserved.
Assistant General for Education UNESCO, Stefania Giannini, stated that local languages were endangered and along with that the world’s culture and ancestral knowledge systems.
Giannini stated that the protection and preservation of languages aimed at ensuring the rights of indigenous people to preserve, revitalize, and promote their languages as well as mainstream linguistic and multilingual diversity into all ongoing sustainable development.
“We must ensure that digital technology supports the use and preservation of language and language diversity,” she affirmed.
Source: Antara News