To mark the International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples, celebrated on 9 August, Action Education reaffirms its commitment to equitable and inclusive access to quality education. In Cambodia, a historic breakthrough illustrates the transformative power of learning in one’s mother tongue.
A global event to celebrate unique but marginalised cultures
Every year, 9 August marks the International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples, an observance established by the United Nations to raise public awareness of the rights, cultures and realities of these communities around the world. It is also an opportunity to reiterate the urgent need to protect the fundamental rights of these communities. With 476 million people Spread across 90 countries, indigenous peoples account for just 6 % of the world’s population, but make up at least 15 % of those living in extreme poverty.
As the heirs to an exceptional cultural and social diversity, indigenous peoples – that is, the original inhabitants of a territory – number more than 5,000 different crops and speak the vast majority of the approximately 7,000 languages recorded worldwide. Yet this priceless treasure is under serious threat: At least 40 % of these languages are currently at risk of becoming extinct, mainly because they are excluded from formal education systems and public spaces. Within the framework of the International Decade of Indigenous Languages (2022–2032) launched by the UN, the preservation of this linguistic heritage is essential for equity, social justice and human rights.
At the heart of this issue lies access to a quality education. For millions of children from indigenous communities, the journey to school begins with a a major obstacle: being taught in an official or national language that they do not understand. This initial linguistic disconnect contributes to school drop-out rates, exacerbates social exclusion and accelerates the erosion of ancestral cultural identities.
Education in the mother tongue: the cornerstone of SDG 4
Learning in the mother tongue during the early years of schooling is not merely a linguistic adjustment; it is a prerequisite essential condition educational success. Scientific research in the field of educational sciences consistently demonstrates that’A child who first learns to read, write and think in their mother tongue develops stronger cognitive skills, greater self-esteem and a greater ease in learning a second language later on.
This approach directly addresses Sustainable Development Goal 4 (SDG 4) of the United Nations 2030 Agenda, which aims to ensure inclusive, equitable and high-quality education, whilst providing opportunities for lifelong learning for all. It is also consistent with the fundamental right enshrined in the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, Article 14 of which explicitly states that: «Indigenous peoples have the right to establish and control their own school systems and institutions, where education is provided in their own language, in a manner consistent with their cultural methods of teaching and learning.»
By breaking down language barriers from early childhood onwards, education systems cease to be vehicles for forced assimilation and become genuine spaces for empowerment and harmonious integration.
Cambodia: a pioneering model for multilingual education
It is precisely this ambition that has been realised in Cambodia. On 27 January 2026, during an official event in Ratanakiri province, His Excellency Dr Hang Chuon Naron, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Education, Youth and Sport, announced the official inclusion of the Jarai language in the national multilingual education programme.
Thanks to this decision, Cambodia has become the first country in the world to implement a multilingual education programme on such a scale. The scheme is based on a «bridge» model: children are taught in their mother tongue from nursery school to Year 3, whilst being introduced to Khmer, before moving onto the national curriculum, taught entirely in Khmer, from Year 4 onwards. The programme now brings together six indigenous languages written using the Khmer alphabet: Tumpuon, Kreung, Brao, Kavet, Pnong and Jarai (or Charay).
Since 2014, Action Education has been actively supporting this programme in Cambodia. Our aim is to ensure that every child can learn in their mother tongue, have access to a high-quality education, and maintain a living connection with their culture and identity.
Vorn Samphors, Country Director of Action Education Cambodia, welcomes the inclusion of the Jarai language in the school curriculum and describes it as a major contribution to the preservation of this community’s mother tongue, culture and traditions. He also emphasises the key role played by children in protecting their language:
«Their involvement in preserving the language can help to safeguard their identity in the future. In this way, more people will continue to recognise and respect Indigenous communities»s", he explains.
For members of the Jarai community, this educational breakthrough represents an urgent response to the risks of linguistic assimilation facing the younger generations.
«Many young people are increasingly adopting the national language at the expense of their mother tongue. Making school textbooks available in Jarai, alongside those in Khmer, will encourage young people to preserve our language whilst mastering the national language.» — Blen Romam, a member of the Jarai community and president of the Cambodian Indigenous Youth Association
For its part, the Cambodian Indigenous Peoples’ Association (CIPA) expressed its great satisfaction at this formal recognition, emphasising that education in the mother tongue is the best defence for preserving traditions and collective memory in the face of the rapid changes brought about by globalisation.
The keys to success and the challenges for the future
Whilst the Cambodian example demonstrates that strong political will, combined with multi-stakeholder cooperation, can transform education systems, several strategic challenges remain for the programme’s future:
- Strengthening financial resources: Extending the bilingual model to very remote rural areas requires long-term funding to cover the costs of producing teaching materials and logistics.
- Recruitment and the promotion of local skills : the continuing professional development of teachers from Indigenous communities remains the cornerstone of the scheme’s success.
- Changes in social perceptions: The introduction of indigenous languages in schools helps to change society’s overall view of these minorities, thereby promoting peaceful coexistence based on mutual respect and intercultural understanding.
Our belief: language as the foundation of empowerment
For Action Education, this historic milestone in Cambodia exemplifies the principles that guide our commitment to education around the world:
- Language is the foundation of identity and a sense of belonging.
- Education is the driving force behind equal opportunities and individual and collective fulfilment.
- Cooperation Cooperation with communities, teachers and local authorities is essential for achieving sustainable development.
On this International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples, let us reaffirm together that learning in one’s mother tongue is not a privilege granted as a favour, but an inalienable human right.
📣 Let’s work together to promote inclusive education!
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