“Mother Tongue-Based Multilingual Education (MTB-MLE) is about so much more than just changing the language in the textbook, the test, or that the teachers use in the classroom. It’s about challenging power dynamics in the learning environment so that students can direct their own learning in ways that are meaningful to them. MTB-MLE requires the use of mother tongue as the language of instruction in the classroom, however, it is not about restricting access to national and international languages” (UNESCO, “MTB-MLE”, http://unesdoc.unesco.org/images/0023/002318/231865E.pdf).

According to studies conducted in several parts of the world, it is acknowledged that mother tongue plays an important role in education. Some countries, such as China, India, the Philippines and Thailand have even implemented mother tongue as language of instruction in primary schools. Results of the implementation showed that there was an increase in the students’ academic achievement.

This prompted SEAQIL to develop Mother Tongue-based Multilingual Education (MTB-MLE) programme in Indonesia.

Here is our effort and achievement throughout the years.