UNESCO GEM Report on Multilingual Education

March 5, 2025

Recent UNESCO GEM reports highlight that 40% of the global population lacks education in a language they understand, rising to 90% in some low- and middle-income countries.
The report, “Languages Matter – Global Guidance on Multilingual Education,” released on the 25th anniversary of International Mother Language Day, stresses the need for multilingual education amid growing linguistic diversity.
Key Findings:

Home Language & Learning: Students perform better when taught in their native language, but many education systems lack trained teachers and materials.
Scale of the Issue: 250 million learners face language barriers, widening the learning gap, especially in diverse and disadvantaged regions.
Challenges: Colonial legacies and modern immigration have complicated language inclusion in education.
Recommendations: Context-specific multilingual education policies, bridging language programs, and culturally responsive teacher training.