the need to go beyond language: including local/indigenous ... · the need to go beyond language:...

The need to go beyond The need to go beyond language: including language: including

local/indigenous culture into local/indigenous culture into the school curriculumthe school curriculum’’

Presentation by Marc Wetz (Quality Education and Ethnic MinoritiPresentation by Marc Wetz (Quality Education and Ethnic Minorities Specialist)es Specialist)3 July 20083 July 2008

Promotion of the use of Promotion of the use of Mother Tongue in the Mother Tongue in the

Education Sector:Education Sector:

Using mother tongue as language of instruction does lead to higher learning achievements in children

Art. 29 of the CRCArt. 29 of the CRC

States Parties agree that the educationof the child shall be directed to:

• c) The development of respect for the child's parents, his or her own cultural identity, language and values, for the national values of the country in which the child is living…..

Art 30 of the CRCArt 30 of the CRC• In those States in which ethnic, religious

or linguistic minorities or persons of indigenous origin exist, a child belonging to such a minority or who is indigenous shall not be denied the right, in community with other members of his or her group, to enjoy his or her own culture, to profess and practice his or her own religion, or to use his or her own language.

ILO Convention No 169 ILO Convention No 169 concerning Indigenous and concerning Indigenous and

Tribal People Tribal People

United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous

Peoples

International Rights Frameworks International Rights Frameworks always link language with culture !always link language with culture !

The need to emphasize this link in our advocacyUsing recent achievements in the promotion of the use of mother tongue as language of instruction as an entry point to make the link with the entire cultural heritage and the right of children to receive an education fostering respect towards their own cultural identity

We have to go beyond We have to go beyond looking at what language is looking at what language is being used to facilitate the being used to facilitate the

teachingteaching--learning process to learning process to WHAT is being taught WHAT is being taught

Why is it so important for Why is it so important for children/adolescents to children/adolescents to

respect and value their own respect and value their own cultural identity?cultural identity?

High self esteem and its positive effects on the life of childrenCrucial for the preservation and revitalization of indigenous culture

Why to advocate for the Why to advocate for the inclusion of indigenous culture inclusion of indigenous culture into the school curriculum and into the school curriculum and

not advocate for the not advocate for the revitalization of the traditional revitalization of the traditional knowledge transfer systems?knowledge transfer systems?

• Giving instant value to Indigenous Knowledge (IK)

• Revives interest in traditional knowledge transfer systems

• Creates participation of community members in school affairs (one of the main targets in Quality Education Programs)

Community ParticipationCommunity Participationin Schoolsin Schools

What is the highest level of participation we are aiming at?

Contributing laborContributing labor ??

Visiting schools and Visiting schools and teaching materialsteaching materials ??

Involved in the teachingInvolved in the teaching--learning processlearning process !!

Including Indigenous Knowledge into Including Indigenous Knowledge into the school curriculum in Hmong the school curriculum in Hmong

communities on the Chinese Border in communities on the Chinese Border in Northern VietnamNorthern Vietnam

Promoting the Inclusion of Promoting the Inclusion of Indigenous Indigenous

Culture/Knowledge with Culture/Knowledge with Hmong communities in Hmong communities in

Northern Vietnam Northern Vietnam 20042004--20072007

(part of Child Friendly (part of Child Friendly Ethnic Communities Project)Ethnic Communities Project)

Music Clubs Music Clubs

Embroidery ClubsEmbroidery Clubs

Herbal Medicine ClubsHerbal Medicine Clubs

The membersThe members of the Herbal of the Herbal Medicine ClubMedicine Club

• Children• Support Teacher• Support Parents• Support Medical

Officer

Visiting knowledgeable Visiting knowledgeable community members to learn community members to learn

Going to find herbs in the Going to find herbs in the forestforest

Collecting herbs and planting Collecting herbs and planting them in a herbal garden in school them in a herbal garden in school

Learning how to process herbal Learning how to process herbal medicinemedicine

Some important points on the Some important points on the processprocess

• Make together with children and community members a community map on who has what IK

• Consultation on what to include first• Consultation with education

authorities• Technical help to community

members transmitting IK

Thank youThank you

Marc Marc WetzWetzmarcwetz@yahoo.commarcwetz@yahoo.com