Publication
Languages matter: global guidance on multilingual education

Championing all learners’ right to a quality education in languages they understand
The linguistic landscape has significantly changed in recent years. This evolution has been shaped by migration, technological developments, and growing recognition of multilingualism’s cognitive, social and economic benefits. This guide presents up-to-date principles for language-in-education policies that recognize multilingualism as both a fundamental human characteristic and an essential educational approach.
This guide is designed to assist Ministries of Education and key educational stakeholders integrate multilingual education into their policy-making and practices, with the goal of creating more inclusive, equitable, and effective educational systems that benefit all learners. It outlines current principles for language-in-education policies that view multilingualism as both a fundamental human characteristic and a vital educational approach.
It also includes key actions for advancing multilingual education policies, plans, and programmes, alongside promising case studies, practical tools for real-world implementation, and resources that can be adapted to various contexts.