Multilingual Education Does Matter UNESCO Reconfirms

Not many people realize that we live in a world where learners speak over 7,000 languages. However, only 351 are used in education. That vast linguistic world has now been documented by the UNESCO in its publication “Languages matter: Global guidance on multilingual education“. In this document the UNESCO urges to adapt educational systems in such way that everyone thrives, regardless of their mother tongue.

In this new article we are giving you a step-by-step dissection of this document, complete with examples and clear instructions for action.

It is also not the first time that the organization is putting this on the agenda, as the video below from 2021 shows.

Championing All Learners’ Right

From the first pages, UNESCO emphasizes the right of every learner to a quality education in languages they understand. The foreword by Stefania Giannini describes how multilingual education (MLE) addresses the stark reality that over a quarter billion learners globally lack schooling in their home languages.

This absence of language support deepens the learning crisis. The guide – again – calls for a radical transformation, weaving multilingualism into policies, plans, classrooms, and communities. No learner is expendable, no language is inferior, and no society can afford to ignore its linguistic richness.

The Four Dimensions of Contextualizing Multilingual Education

The guide completely dismantles the notion that multilingual education is one-size-fits-all. It brings forward four overarching contexts. Each context brings unique strategies:

  1. Context 1: Mother Tongue-Based MLE for Ethnic Minority Languages.
    This scenario appears when learners speak a language at home that differs from the language of instruction. Early-exit models switch too quickly to a dominant language, causing learners to miss foundational literacy. Late-exit models prioritize mastery in the home language first. Ethiopia’s eight-year model, for example, shows higher academic outcomes than four-year models. Meanwhile, Kiribati employs a 90/10 approach for the national language Te Kiribati and English, gradually blending both until high school graduation.
  2. Context 2: MLE for Migrant and Refugee Languages.
    Massive migration reshapes classrooms, leading to second or third language requirements for refugee and migrant learners. The guide showcases the United States, where schools encourage migrant students to keep reading in their first language and simultaneously master English. The result? Higher literacy, stronger engagement from parents, and better long-term academic gains.
  3. Context 3: MLE for Endangered Languages.
    Countless Indigenous languages face extinction. The guide underscores language revitalization efforts, where the language of instruction might not be a child’s mother tongue but rather a heritage language that risks disappearing forever. For instance, communities in Latin America, North America, and the Pacific Islands develop immersion schools to resurrect endangered languages like Tlingit or local forms of Maya. The digital revolution offers new tools: free keyboard software like Keyman helps teachers and students create local-language apps and resources.
  4. Context 4: MLE for Majority Languages.
    Even in nations where children speak the official language at home, there’s a rising push to expand language repertoires. Programs introduce languages like French, Spanish, Chinese, or Arabic through immersion techniques. Europe and North America use these “two-way” or “dual-language” models to build learners’ multilingual skills. Parents welcome the cognitive and career benefits, including delayed onset of age-related mental decline and better global job prospects.

Why Multilingual Education Matters

Multilingual education enhances reading, writing, and thinking skills. The guide for instance cites a Kenyan study where children taught first in their mother tongue earned higher scores in English later (You can find more info in Box 9 in the document).

Cognitive advantages also emerge, boosting problem-solving abilities and empathy. MLE promotes inclusion by lowering dropout rates, reducing frustration, and allowing families to engage with the school.

The publication also stresses a broader socioeconomic impact. Societies that respect and nurture multiple languages tend to display deeper social cohesion. Revitalizing mother tongues, for instance, fosters cultural identity and self-esteem. Economic growth can accelerate when every child receives a solid foundation in literacy and math, then seamlessly transfers these skills to additional languages.

Practical Action for Multilingual Education

The guide structures its recommendations using six domains. It encourages, also you as an educator, to dive into each of these dimensions and enact specific measures:

  1. Leadership: Laws, Policies, and Plans.
    • Pass legal frameworks ensuring language rights.
    • Create detailed policy roadmaps to expand or launch MLE programs.
    • Form committees with linguists, community leaders, and government officials to draft comprehensive language plans.
    • Publicize these plans through mass and social media to rally public support.
    Examples abound: Senegal’s Harmonized Bilingual Teaching Model (MOHEBS) integrates multiple languages into official policy. Mexico’s Intercultural Bilingual Education (IBE) stands out by mainstreaming Indigenous languages in curricula.
  2. Learning: Curriculum, Materials, and Assessment.
    • Embed mother tongue instruction in the earliest grades.
    • Gradually introduce second or third languages.
    • Develop teaching tools in local languages, from print to digital resources.
    • Align assessments with the language of instruction, measuring actual knowledge instead of penalizing language barriers.
    Box 28 points to national efforts that design mother tongue textbooks in collaboration with local community members. Another example references e-books in Indigenous languages that boost remote learning access.
  3. Teachers: Recruitment, Training, and Pedagogy.
    • Hire teachers fluent in the learners’ home language and the national language.
    • Provide pre-service and in-service training on multilingual strategies.
    • Empower teachers to create bilingual lesson plans, transition models, and safe learning spaces.
    Bolivia’s Bilingual Nests strategy places a pair of teachers in one class, one specializing in mother tongue instruction, the other in Spanish, so students switch smoothly between the two.
  4. Learning Environments: Facilities and Social Interaction.
    • Display local-language materials and stories.
    • Incorporate cultural practices in the classroom, drawing on local traditions.
    • Encourage mutual respect for linguistic and cultural diversity among learners.
    Nepal’s multilingual classrooms highlight the value of visual aids in local scripts. Guatemala fosters a print-rich environment by decorating walls with bilingual posters and storybooks.
  5. Evidence: Data, Monitoring, and Evaluation.
    • Conduct sociolinguistic surveys before launching programs.
    • Track enrollment, progression, and test scores by home language.
    • Evaluate teachers’ mastery of multilingual methods.
    • Adjust policies based on evidence.
    India’s language mapping initiative identified pockets of minority-language speakers, helping administrators tailor teacher deployment and resources.
  6. Partnerships: Engaging Parents, Communities, and Organizations.
    • Involve families as co-creators of learning materials.
    • Invite community members to share stories, songs, or life experiences in the heritage language.
    • Collaborate with NGOs, universities, and international donors to supplement technical expertise and financial support.
    Brazil’s example of community-based learning in remote areas revitalizes Indigenous languages and traditions with communal involvement.

Critical Takeaways: Multilingual Education (MLE) and Sustainable Development

The document integrates multilingual education with major global goals. Language-based approaches to literacy promote gender equality, lift local economies, reduce inequalities, and protect environmental knowledge. The UNESCO guidance aligns with the SDGs, making MLE more than a classroom strategy: it’s a gateway to a fair, harmonious society.

UNESCO’s “Languages matter” publication does more than inform. You, even as an educator, parent, or community member, can transform your local schools. Embrace the mother tongue, introduce second and third languages gradually, and open doors to heritage languages at risk of extinction.

These efforts can be strengthened these efforts through leadership, curriculum reform, teacher training, inclusive classrooms, rigorous monitoring, and broad partnerships. This way we will be able to fortify children’s learning, celebrate cultural identities, and build a future where no language is sidelined.

We recommend you all to read the original UNESCO document for an in-depth understanding of each chapter, case study, and recommended practice.

Additionally we also created a frequently asked questions list on the document.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What Is Multilingual Education, and Why Does It Matter?

Multilingual education (MLE) uses two or more languages in classrooms. It ensures everyone learns in a language they truly understand, boosting academic performance, cultural inclusion, and community pride.

2. Does the Guide Recommend Mother Tongue-Based Approaches?

Yes. The document emphasizes mother tongue-based instruction. It explains that learners gain stronger literacy and critical thinking skills when they begin schooling in a language they speak at home.

3. How Do Different Contexts Affect MLE?

The guide outlines four distinct contexts:

  • Ethnic minority learners whose home language differs from the official medium of instruction
  • Migrant and refugee learners needing to bridge language gaps
  • Communities reviving endangered languages
  • Majority-language speakers pursuing global or regional tongues
    This framework helps policymakers tailor MLE to real-life scenarios.

4. Are There Examples of MLE Working in Practice?

Yes. Ethiopia’s late-exit model keeps children in mother tongue instruction for up to eight years. Kiribati slowly increases English lessons while maintaining Te Kiribati as the primary instructional language. Both cases show higher levels of academic achievement.

5. Is MLE Expensive?

The guide notes upfront costs, like creating textbooks or training teachers. But it underscores that these efforts save resources over time. Learners who master foundational literacy in their first language typically show better school retention, reducing future remedial spending.

6. Does MLE Help with Social and Emotional Development?

Absolutely. Students feel more confident, engaged, and respected when their language and culture appear in class. Families also participate more actively, which strengthens community-school ties.

7. How Does This Guidance Address Endangered Languages?

It promotes language revitalization through heritage-language immersion. Communities in North America, Latin America, and other regions design programs to bring ancestral tongues back to life. Digital resources like local-language apps and e-books assist these endeavors.

8. What Does the Guide Say About Climate Action and Cultural Preservation?

It connects indigenous knowledge – passed down in mother tongues – to environmental stewardship. Traditional practices found in these languages can inform sustainable agriculture, biodiversity conservation, and disaster preparedness.

9. How Should Teachers and Administrators Be Trained?

They need specialized instruction in bilingual teaching methods, language mapping, and culturally responsive pedagogies. Ongoing professional development helps them blend languages fluidly and maintain inclusive classrooms.

10. Which Factors Are Critical for MLE Success?

The publication points to six key areas:

  1. Leadership through laws and policies
  2. Curriculum, materials, and assessments matching local contexts
  3. Skilled teachers trained in multilingual methods
  4. Inclusive, culturally vibrant classrooms
  5. Data-driven monitoring and evaluation
  6. Strong partnerships with parents, NGOs, and community leaders

11. Where Can I Get More Information?

Review the full UNESCO publication, “Languages Matter: Global Guidance on Multilingual Education“. It offers greater depth, detailed case studies, and robust strategies for adopting MLE in diverse settings.


I have a background in environmental science and journalism. For WINSS I write articles on climate change, circular economy, and green innovations. When I am not writing, I enjoy hiking in the Black Forest and experimenting with plant-based recipes.