Makassar, Sulawesi Selatan - The government of Makassar has been awarded for its efforts to preserve and protect the regional language through the publication of regulations related to mother tongue. The award was presented by Dewi Pridayanti, the acting head of the South Sulawesi Language Center under the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education, during an event held at the Pinisi Tower Ballroom of Universitas Negeri Makassar (UNM) on Friday.
"The Makassar city government has played a significant role in efforts to preserve local languages. This was proven by the issuance of the Mayor's regulation on December 24, 2024," she stated.
The regulation mandates the inclusion of the Makassar language as a compulsory local content subject at the elementary and secondary school levels. Similar recognition was also granted to the Mayor of Parepare for his dedication to preserving regional languages.
This award presentation occurred as part of the National Mother Language Seminar, which aimed to commemorate International Mother Language Day. Pridayanti expressed hope this recognition will encourage local governments and other stakeholders to continuously improve their efforts for preserving regional languages.
The seminar, organized by the Association for the Preservation of Regional Languages (HPBD) and the Association of Indonesian Language Educators (PPBDI) South Sulawesi, successfully attracted around 400 participants.
This event also shed light on the vulnerability of various regional languages. For example, the Sekak language on Bangka Belitung Island has been identified as endangered. Recognizing such challenges emphasizes the urgent need for integrated efforts to protect these linguistic heritages, which play pivotal roles not only in cultural identity but also in fostering community and communication.
Various speakers at the seminar discussed the importance of teaching regional languages alongside the national language, highlighting educational strategies to engage students and preserve these languages. The growing awareness of this issue among educators reveals changing attitudes toward language teaching.
Pridayanti added, "This regulation can prevent the extinction of regional languages by introducing and teaching them to students from an early age." This statement echoed the sentiments expressed by many participants, who recognized the cultural and practical importance of maintaining language fluency.
The recent efforts undertaken by the Makassar government, along with other provincial governments, represent significant strides toward enhancing linguistic diversity and educational quality. It’s anticipated these initiatives will also inspire other regions grappling with similar issues of language preservation.