2nd announcement and call for papers: Language, Education, and MDGs

[Lila San Roque]

*Apologies for  cross-postings*
 Source site: here
 
26.03.10  International  Conference on Language, Education and the Millenium  Development Goals -  2nd Announcement and Call for Papers
 							 	 							
An International Conference on “Language, Education  and the  Millennium Development Goals” will be held 9-11 November,2010 in   Bangkok, Thailand sponsored by a consortium of organizations from the   Asia Multilingual Education Working Group, including: UNESCO, UNICEF,   SEAMEO, Mahidol University, SIL International, Save the Children and   CARE.
 								
Join with representatives from government and   intergovernmental agencies, NGOs, academics and local community   organizations during a three-day forum to dialogue about the state of   development of ethnolinguistic minorities, the relevance of local   languages, and how to develop programmes and policies that better reach   these underserved groups.
 								
Purpose
 	 							
Languages are more than tools for, and means of   communication, they help shape the identity of individuals and groups,   as well as serving as a key element in social integration and cultural   development. As such, languages are also strategically important for the   attainment of internationally agreed upon goals such as the Millennium   Development Goals (MDGs) and Education for All (EFA).
 								
Despite  aggregate gains worldwide in achieving the MDGs and  EFA, the state of  development for the world’s ethnolinguistic minorities  continues to lag  behind, putting them at risk for even greater  disparities in the  future and increasing the likelihood of conflict  arising from  exclusion.
 								
This conference is meant to provide a forum to  enhance  understanding, inspire meaningful action and increase access  to  education and development opportunities for ethnolinguistic  communities  through: 
 - Increasing  understanding of the  linkages between language and achieving
 the eight  millennium  development goals (MDGs) 
 - Fostering   connections among a broad set of actors to support activities that   integrate language and education as crosscutting themes in achieving the   MDG's.


 - Informing policy makers and   development partners on good practices to effectively incorporate   language and education into strategies and policies to achieve the MDGs.


Tracks
  								
The conference will feature four thematic tracks, which will   incorporate language and education as crosscutting themes:
 - Ethnolinguistic   Communities & Universal Primary Education (MDG 2)


Examples   of sub-themes for consideration:
 - What are the linguistic   and cultural considerations in strategies that seek to achieve universal   primary education? 
 - What is the role of learners’ first   language (L1), or mother tongue, versus languages of wider communication   (national, official or international languages) in the primary   education system? How are multilingual education approaches and models   being utilized to facilitate achievement of UPE?
 - What is the   role of non-formal education, particularly early childhood education and   development as well as adult literacy in supporting universal primary   education? How are multilingual education approaches being incorporated   in this environment to facilitate smooth integration into primary   school?
 - How are ethnolinguistic minority children (who speak   non-dominant languages) fairing relative to their dominant language   speaking counterparts in accessing, and sustaining, their involvement in   primary school?
 - In what ways have local language and culture   been effectively integrated in policies and programmes to improve access   for, and retention of, non-dominant language speakers within formal   education systems?


2.      Ethnolinguistic   Communities & Gender Equality (MDG 3)
 								
Examples  of sub-themes for consideration:
 - What  are the linguistic  and cultural considerations in strategies that  promote gender equality  and empower women?
 - What is the role of  life-long learning in  overcoming gender biases and discrimination?
 - How  are women and  girls fairing in ethnolinguistic minority communities  relative to their  counterparts in dominant language speaking  communities?
 - In  what ways have local language and culture been  effectively integrated  in policies and programmes to ensure equitable  development  opportunities, improved status and treatment of both sexes?


3.       Ethnolinguistic Communities,  Health & Security  (MDGs 4,5,6)
 								
Examples of sub-themes for  consideration:
 - What  are the linguistic and cultural  considerations in strategies to: reduce  child mortality, improve  maternal health and enhance disease prevention?  
 - What is the  role of life-long learning in fostering improved  health and security  for ethnolinguistic communities?
 - How are  ethnolinguistic  minorities fairing relative to dominant language  populations with  regard to improving maternal and child health, or  combating diseases  such as HIV/AIDS, malaria and tuberculosis?
 - In  what ways have  local language and culture been effectively integrated  into policies  and programmes to facilitate improved health and security  for speakers  of non-dominant languages?


4.      Ethnolinguistic   Communities and Sustainable Development (MDGs 1,7)
 						 		
Examples of sub-themes for consideration:
 - What  is the role of intangible cultural heritage in sustainable   development? 
 - What are linguistic and cultural   considerations in poverty reduction and environmental preservation   strategies? 
 - What is the role of life-long   learning in fostering sustainable development?
 - How   are ethnolinguistic minorities fairing relative to dominant language   populations with regard to alleviating extreme poverty and hunger, or in   mitigating environmental degradation. 
 - In   what ways have local language and culture been effectively integrated   into policies and programmes to facilitate equitable and sustainable   development for speakers of non-dominant languages?


Abstract  Submissions:
 								
Abstracts of proposed papers will  be accepted until July  15, 2010.  Selected presenters will be notified by August  20, 2010.  We welcome submission of papers and perspectives  representing a broad  range of viewpoints and that highlight  relevant local,  national or comparative research and practice  in the four  thematic areas of the conference.
 								
Registration  Fees
 								
Registration fees will cover the following  items: conference  kit, access to plenary and panel sessions, morning  and afternoon  refreshments and buffet lunches for the three days of the  conference.  Registration will open in May/June 2010.
 - Thai   Participants: 4,950 Thai Baht
 - International   (Non-Thai) Participants: US$250/person (equivalent to 8280   Thai Baht)


More information on the   conference programme, venue and plenary speakers will be available in   May/June 2010. Please contact: s.custer[at]unescobkk.org  or j.lindeberg[at]unesco.org  for more information.

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