International Mother Language Day

21 February is International Mother Language Day. This day is celebrated and commemorated annually around the world for the promotion, preservation and revitalisation of the languages of all people around the world. 

The University of Cape Town will not be hosting an event this year to celebrate and commemorate International Mother Language Day however, other institutions, organisations and interested parties are welcome and encouraged to host events and commemorate this day. On the 20th and 21st of February 2023, there will be national event held at The Ranch Resort in Limpopo to commemorate International Mother Language Day.

The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) proclaimed 21 February International Mother Language Day in November 1999. This day was proclaimed "promote the preservation and protection of all languages used by peoples of the world". The commemoration of this day by the global community is a way to raise awareness of the importance of mother tongue use, cultural diversity and multilingualism. In 2023, UNESCO has set the theme for the commemoration of International Mother Language Day as "Multilingual education- a necessity to transform education" in an effort to encourage multilingual education based on mother tongue or first language.

The Pan South African Language Board (PanSALB) launched its Language Activism Month campaign at the beginning of February therefore marking this month as Language Activism Month. This campaign will place emphasis on advancing the adoption of the Department of Basic Education’s Mother Tongue Based Bilingual Education programme and fast tracking its roll-out in schools throughout the country.