KARACHI: Experts call for early education in mother tongue
KARACHI, Feb 26: Linguists, writers and intellectuals at a seminar on Thursday suggested that children be imparted early education in their respective mother-languages
, besides training them in at least two other languages, especially in country like Pakistan, where many languages are spoken.
According to them, mono-lingual countries, including Japan, China, Korea, France and Germany, made rapid progress due to imparting basic and higher education to their citizens in their own languages.
However, in the countries like Pakistan and India, where several languages were spoken, mother-language should be given preference for imparting early education to children, and at the same time they should also be taught both national and official languages, for acquiring higher education.
The seminar on "Celebrating Linguistic Diversity," was organized by the Pakistan Press Foundation (PPF) at its Vickey Zeitlin Media Library, in connection with Unesco's International Mother Language Day, marked on Feb 21 every year.
Dr Abu Tayyab Khan, Chairman, Department of Bengali, Karachi University, informed the audience that the decision to observe the day was unanimously taken at the Unesco's 30th general conference, held on Nov 17, 1999.
According to Dr Tayyab, Bangladesh's official proposal sent to Unesco for marking Feb 21 as Mother Language Day was endorsed by Ivorycoast, Italy, Indonesia, Iran, Oman, Comoros, Gambia, Chile, Dominican Republic, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Philippines, Bahamas, Benin, Blearus, Vanuatu, India, Micronesia, Malaysia, Egypt, Russia, Lithuania, Sri Lanka, Saudi Arabia, Surinam, Slovakia and Honduras.
He was of the view that the alleged killings of some students of the Dhaka University, who were demanding status of national language for Bangla, in early days of Pakistan, were crucial in separation and establishment of Bangladesh. If Bangla had been declared the second national language of the country, the separation could have been avoided, he added.
Dr Kaleem Raza of KU's English Department, informed that around 66 languages were spoken in Pakistan, and unfortunately, 18 of them were not studied or taught at all, due to which it was feared that regional languages might perish.
He said that presently over 6,000 languages were spoken all over the world and warned that at least 40 per cent of these languages were expected to die out during the current century.
He said it was a challenge to ensure that the 'endangered' languages, 95 per cent of which were spoken by only four per cent of the world's population, continued to be used alongside the world's major languages.
Dr Raza suggested that, at least, primary education in the country be imparted in mother-language, which despite being a cumbersome task, could yield positive results.
"Cognitive development takes place only in mother-language but at the same time, other mainstream languages should also be taught to children," he said. "English should be taught in English and Sindhi in Sindhi language, instead of Urdu," he added.
Noted playwright and dramatist Fatima Surraiya Bajia, in her speech said languages were evolved for communication and people should learn other languages also to understand each other's point of view.
Unfortunately, here language was creating divisions among people, instead of bringing them closer, she said, adding: "I think that in addition to the national language, everybody in the country should learn other regional languages, including Sindhi, Punjabi, Siraiki and others."
According to her, a lack of communication and interaction among the people and hatred created by some people with vested interests, were the reasons which hindered learning of other languages.
Usman Panhwar, culture secretary of the Sindh Graduates' Association, in his deliberations deplored that mother-languages, especially regional languages were being ignored in the country.
"Sindhi is being taught at public schools and colleges in the province but unfortunately, some private schools in the city are not giving importance to it and keeping their students away from local language," he informed. Sindhi author and journalist Mr Amb Gopang also spoke on the occasion. -PPI
