Sun Mar 02 22:54:00 UTC 2025: ## UNESCO Report Highlights Global Language Barrier in Education

**New Delhi, March 3, 2025** – A new report by UNESCO’s Global Education Monitoring (GEM) team reveals a significant global language barrier in education, impacting nearly 40% of the world’s population. The report, titled ‘Languages matter: Global guidance on multilingual education,’ released on the 25th anniversary of International Mother Language Day, highlights that a staggering quarter of a billion learners lack access to education in a language they understand. This figure climbs to 90% in some low- and middle-income countries.

The GEM team emphasizes the urgent need for multilingual education policies and practices. While many countries recognize the importance of home language education, implementation remains limited due to several challenges: insufficient teacher training in home languages, lack of learning materials in these languages, and community resistance.

The report, released as India implements its new National Education Policy advocating multilingual education, notes the increasing linguistic diversity in classrooms worldwide due to migration. This includes over 31 million displaced youth facing language barriers. The report identifies both historical (colonial legacies) and contemporary (immigration) factors contributing to these challenges.

The GEM team offers several recommendations, including context-specific approaches to language policy, curriculum adjustments to support language transitions, and effective bridging language programs for immigrant students. They also stress the importance of training teachers in both home and second languages, culturally responsive pedagogy, and strong support systems within and outside schools to foster inclusive learning environments. The report further emphasizes the role of school leaders in fostering inclusivity and collaboration with parents and communities.

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