A day aimed at developing a fuller awareness of linguistic and cultural traditions around the world as well as promoting unity in diversity and international understanding, through multilingualism and multiculturalism; International Mother Languages Day, will be celebrated on Saturday February 21.

The day is observed annually by the National Commission for UNESCO as part of its mandate to raise awareness globally in keeping with the objectives of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).

According to a release from the National Commission signed by Secretary General Antonio Maynard,  “As the Federation of St. Kitts and Nevis becomes more and more of a plural society with peoples of diverse nationalities and cultures, we as a nation must embrace and give due recognition to this segment of our population.”

Maynard added that as students of different nationalities attend school in St Kitts and Nevis, a pedagogical approach that embraces their language and cultures should be adopted, thereby encouraging them to transfer skills and strategies for learning across languages, through inter-lingual teaching and learning.

To commemorate the day the National Commission for UNESCO asked local media houses to prepare news items that would highlight the diverse languages and people represented in our Federation. (SKNIS Press Release)