Mother Tongue-Based Multilingual Education: Experiences and Emerging Issues in Southest Asia and Malaysia

Author: Helen Ting Mu Hung
Publisher: UKM Press
ISBN: 9786294862449
Tahun: 2024
Weight: 427gsm
Pages: pp
Price: RM35

Socio-economically disadvantaged ethnic minorities often do not speak the national language at home. Yet the acquisition of the national language and English is vital for their economic mobility and social integration. Parents commonly think that studying in a school operating fully and solely in the language is the best way for a child to master a new language an approach found to be flawed. International agencies striving for universal literacy since the 1990s have come to the realisation that: "shockingly low learning outcomes may be a reflection of inadequate language of instruction policies". 

Empirical evidence has demonstrated that a well-designed and adequately resourced multilingual programme conducted first in children's mother tongue or home language not only improves their learning of various subjects across the curriculum but also their acquisition of new languages. 
For indigenous children living in remote locations who generally experienced high dropout rates, it could contribute to strengthened cognitive skills, enhanced self-confidence and self-esteem, greater engagement in class, improved attendance and better overall academic attainment. 

In this volume, international experts discuss the broader historical context and the related experiences in Cambodia, Philippines and Southern Thailand. Chapters on Malaysia focuses on the emerging language-in-education issues and the lesser-known community initiatives to provide mother tongue-based pre-school or after-school education for indigenous children. 

By highlighting the importance of the language of instruction on children's learning and academic performance, an underexplored area of research in Malaysia, this volume hopes to contribute to evidence-based educational debates. The volume delves into the complexity and global relevance of this topical issue to achieve multilingual literacy and optimal learning in an equitable and inclusive way.