Mother tongue education provides a strong foundation for effective and efficient learning, including learning new languages. When children are able to use their mother tongue in school, they do far better.   Learning to read and write only has to be done once.   Understanding concepts is far easier in a language children understand.  The skills and concepts children learn in mother tongue can easily be transferred to other languages. They learn to read, write and communicate well.They learn new concepts with understanding.Classrooms become a place of active learning.Drop out rates are vastly reduced. While the context is local, the goals of the curriculum and the concepts learned align with government guidelines and requirements.	This produces a programme that…Appreciates and builds on the learners’ prior knowledge Uses culturally relevant materials developed by local experts, iIllustrated by local artistsIs child-centred and age appropriateGradually introduces new languages through specially developed approachFacilitates the learning of new skills and concepts Eases the transfer of skills and knowledge Preserving language and cultural heritageUsing the local language, culture and environment as the core content of the curriculum includingcommunity activitieslocal stories and songshistoryarts and craftsmusic ensures that the values and heritage of the community will be retained.  This creates an important bridge between home and school and prevents intergenerational division.   FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT:Paul Ole Leitura at Mulika Afrikapaulleitura@gmail.com	MOTHER TONGUE BASED MULTILINGUAL EDUCATION FOR CHILDREN OF THE MAASAI COMMUNITY MULIKA AFRIKA, TanzaniawithINTERNATIONAL NETWORK FOR DEVELOPMENT, UK
Maasai Multilingual Education ProgrammeTanzania is home to a population of over 70 million people. It has a remarkable linguistic and cultural diversity; a country with over 125 languages (Ethnologue).  While this rich heritage is a source of pride, it poses challenges to the education system, the complexity causing difficulties in developing inclusive education for many of native language   communities.  Tanzania has long been committed to kiSwahili choosing to make it the national language, and to English, yet the many communities where neither kiSwahili nor English are fluently spoken remain marginalized and educational progress is limited. Where children are not familiar with the language of the school, learning to read and write and to understand the content of the curriculum becomes very difficult.  Many give up and drop out of schooling altogether, and where they do manage to continue, learning is very limited.	…the students …. wrote about not knowing the LoI (Language of Instruction) when they began school; undergoing inordinate physical and psychological punishment; feeling their L1s were stigmatized; and learning little English – or any other subject. Thus, the elites of the country have been trying to impose a European language on the citizens – in lieu of an educated, multilingual, African nation.Second language acquiescence of multilingual students in Tanzania Ann E. Roemer (2022)  To develop a more inclusive approach to education, a policy that fosters linguistic diversity while at the same time promoting KiSwahili and English is required. Using local languages in the classroom, particularly in the early years, provides children with an improved educational experience, increases the sense of community and promotes more equitable opportunities.	Many linguistically diverse countries have been developing programmes using local languages.  When children first come to school, they learn in the language they are familiar with and can easily understand (mother tongue).  New languages (state and national languages/ English) are gradually introduced, and interactive teaching methods make learning enjoyable.  The classroom becomes a safe place children want to go to where they can participate, interact and be creative, and no longer feel confused or afraid.    This programme is called Mother Tongue Based Multilingual Education (MTBMLE)