Mother tongue-based teaching and education for girls

The benefits of mother tongue-based teaching and education for girls

By: Benson C
Published by: UNESCO Bangkok: Asia and Pacific Regional Bureau for Education , 2005

The Asia-Pacific region is characterised by rich ethnic, cultural and linguistic diversity, and children who have an opportunity to learn through their mother tongue or home language have the best chance of understanding what is taught, making the connection between the spoken and written word and participating in their own learning. Yet, many children must struggle to learn through a foreign language or language variety that is not their own.

This advocacy brief examines the issues surrounding marginalisation, language and girls; explores obstacles to girls education and strategies to address them, and looks at the benefits of mother tongue-based teaching and education for girls.