Mother Language First. Towards achieving EFA for Adivasi children in Bangladesh

The publication “Mother Language First” is a joint publication of the Khagrachari Hill District Council, Zabarang Kalyan Samity, and Save the Children. The publication highlights the importance and right of children to begin education in a language they speak and understand, their mother tongue. The book discusses multilingual education as a process of quality education which stresses the importance of learning through local language and incorporating local culture. Whereas Bengali children attend schools in their mother tongue, the vast majority of ethnic minority children in Bangladesh are not able to realise this right. This publication summarises the use of Mother tongue-based multilingual education which will ensure 1) increased access and equity 2) improved learning outcomes 3) reduced repetition and dropout rates 4) sociocultural benefits 5) lower overall costs.