Following the adoption of Indonesian as an official language of the UNESCO General Conference, the Indonesian Education and Culture (ATDIKBUD) Attaché in Canberra, Mukhamad Najib, accelerates the promotion of the Indonesian language in Australia.
The UNESCO General Conference’s 42nd session in Paris marked a significant milestone for the Indonesian language, leading to increased efforts to promote it in Australia. The Attaché of Education and Culture at the Indonesian Embassy in Canberra plays a pivotal role in these efforts.
Najib highlighted new opportunities for strengthening the promotion of Indonesian in Australia, citing two key moments: the Australian government’s policy to increase Asia literacy among its students, including learning Indonesian, and the official recognition of Indonesian at the UNESCO General Conference.
The strategic positioning of the Indonesian language, now considered not just a cultural language but also a future language of science and economics, necessitates its promotion in the Australian education system. The language is currently taught in over 600 Australian schools and is among the top five foreign languages learned by over 100,000 students.
Most Australian students learn Indonesian at the primary level, with few continuing to higher levels of education. Hence, there’s a call for collaboration and synergy among stakeholders to boost the language’s prominence among senior students and university students in Australia.
Najib expressed optimism that with collaborative efforts and support, Indonesian would gain significant interest among older students and university students in Australia. Plans are in place to further ignite interest in Indonesian in 2024, including sending assistant teachers to Australian schools.
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The Focused Group Discussion event in Sydney, attended by various stakeholders, including the Australia Indonesia Association of New South Wales, academics from the University of Sydney, and Indonesian language enthusiasts from the University of New South Wales, emphasized focusing on model schools for promoting Indonesian in New South Wales.
The official recognition of Indonesian as a UNESCO language and the ensuing promotional efforts in Australia signify a vital step in cultural exchange and educational collaboration between Indonesia and Australia. This initiative is expected to foster a deeper understanding and appreciation of Indonesian culture and language among Australian students.
The Indonesian language’s new status as an official language of the UNESCO General Conference has spurred increased promotional efforts in Australia. Led by the Indonesian Education and Culture Attaché, these efforts aim to strengthen the language’s presence in Australian education, with a focus on creating model schools and expanding to higher education levels. This move marks a significant advancement in Indonesia-Australia cultural relations.
Source: Batam Today, Okezone (2023)
