Amid globalisation and rapid digital technological advancements,\nhundreds of young people from across Indonesia gathered in Depok, West\nJava. They carried a crucial message that regional languages must not be\nlost to time.<\/p>\n
Through the 2026 National Mother Tongue Festival (FTBIN), the\ngovernment and youth demonstrated that mother tongues remain alive,\nthriving, and being passed down.<\/p>\n
For Indonesia, home to hundreds of regional languages, language\npreservation is not merely about maintaining communication tools but\nsafeguarding collective memory, cultural values, and national identity.\nRegional languages serve as the home of folktales, ancestral wisdom, and\nsocietal perspectives on life.<\/p>\n
The Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education (Kemendikdasmen),\nthrough the Language Development and Development Agency (Badan Bahasa),\norganised the 2026 National Mother Tongue Festival from 22\u201326 May at the\nKemendikdasmen Human Resource Training Centre (PPSDM) in Bojongsari,\nDepok. The festival is part of the 2026 National Education Day\ncelebrations and a key moment for protecting and revitalising regional\nlanguages in Indonesia.<\/p>\n
Deputy Minister of Basic and Secondary Education Atip Latipulhayat\nemphasised that language preservation must not be limited to annual\nceremonies. He stated that regional languages must be actively present\nin daily life, especially in education. \u201cIf regional languages only\nexist in books or as subjects without being used in daily teaching, they\nwill eventually become mere memories,\u201d he said during the festival\u2019s\nclosing ceremony on Monday (25\/5) at the Garuda Building, PPSDM\nKemendikdasmen in Depok.<\/p>\n
He urged for regional languages to be strengthened as the medium of\ninstruction in schools, a step deemed vital for youth to remain familiar\nand proud of their mother tongues.<\/p>\n
Atip also highlighted technology\u2019s role in sustaining regional\nlanguages. In the era of artificial intelligence (AI), he said regional\nlanguages must integrate into the digital ecosystem to avoid\nobsolescence. He stressed optimising Large Language Model (LLM)\ntechnology to enable Indonesian regional languages to be widely used in\ndigital spaces, from apps to future AI platforms. \u201cRegional languages\nmust enter the AI ecosystem to remain relevant and continue being used\nby younger generations,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n
In his address, Badan Bahasa Chief Hafidz Muksin noted the festival\nmarked the culmination of the Regional Language Revitalisation (RBD)\nprogram implemented progressively across Indonesia. He explained the\ninitiative extends beyond classroom training, involving multi-agency\ncoordination, teaching material development, teacher training, school\noutreach, and tiered festivals from schools to provinces. \u201cThis year,\nour national education landscape is increasingly welcoming of\ndiversity,\u201d Hafidz said.<\/p>\n
Also present were Deputy Minister Fajar Riza Ul Haq, Governor of the\nRiau Islands Ansar Ahmad, DPD RI Committee III Deputy Chair Jelita\nDonal, regional leaders, language agency heads, and participants from\nacross Indonesia.<\/p>\n
The Riau Islands Governor mentioned plans to build a Language Museum\nhonouring Raja Ali Haji, the renowned author of Gurindam 12, noting his\nwork laid the foundation for Malay as a lingua franca and eventually\nIndonesian.<\/p>\n
The 2026 National Mother Tongue Festival, themed \u201cVoices of Mother\nTongue Youth in Multilingual Education\u201d, featured 137 top provincial\nparticipants representing 105 languages and dialects from 36 provinces.\nThese secondary and primary school students, who participated in\nregional language revitalisation programs, showcased their languages\nthrough traditional songs, speeches, storytelling, and creative\nperformances, fostering intercultural exchange among Indonesian\nyouth.<\/p>\n
One participant, Rahmi Oktavia, a Year 9 student from SMPN 1 Rambah\nHilir, expressed pride in performing the Onduo Traditional Song at the\nfestival. For her, the event provided not only a platform to perform\nbefore government officials but also a tangible step for youth to\npreserve ancestral heritage and learn to appreciate diversity. \u201cThrough\nthis festival, we can preserve our regional languages while learning\ntolerance,\u201d she said.<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/language-agency-revitalising-regional-languages-from-classroom-to-digital-space-1780141005", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }