Regional Language In Indonesia Is Almost Extinction, The Government Plans To Revitalize

Illustration of regional language (Kemendikbudpar)

JAKARTA - Several regional languages in Indonesia are nearing extinction, the Ministry of Education, Culture, Research and Technology (Kemendikbudristek) invites the Ministry of Home Affairs (Kemendagri) to collaborate to revitalize regional languages.

"Gotong royong in revitalizing regional languages continues to be echoed in order to achieve the policy goals promoted by the Ministry of Education and Culture," said Secretary General (Sesjen) of the Ministry of Education and Culture Suharti as quoted by ANTARA, Thursday, March 9.

The Ministry of Education and Culture's efforts were preceded by a visit to the Ministry of Home Affairs Office on Tuesday to harmonize steps in implementing Merdeka Learning policies optimally in the field.

Suharti said that the regional revitalization effort by the Ministry of Education and Culture itself was included in the 17th Anniversary Learning Episode program which had been launched since last year.

Based on data from the Ministry of Education and Culture, regional language revitalization has been carried out by 157 districts/cities in 13 provinces, while for revitalized languages as many as 39 regional languages.

Suharti assessed that the Ministry of Home Affairs and local governments have a very vital role in revitalizing regional languages.

Therefore, he said that there is consolidation between absolute policy makers to be carried out in a sustainable manner so that more regional languages can be revitalized.

Head of the Language Agency E. Aminudin Aziz emphasized that the Ministry of Home Affairs and the Ministry of Education and Culture as recipients of the mandate of laws and regulations regarding the protection of regional languages need to work together in implementing the Free Learning policy.

"Including revitalizing regional languages between the center and the regions and the need for strengthening from the Ministry of Home Affairs towards efforts to revitalize regional languages," he said.

Meanwhile, the Secretary General (Secretary General) of the Ministry of Home Affairs, Suhajar Diantoro, also gave special directions and orders to echelon 1 and 2 officials to support the implementation of regional language revitalization.

This is considering that it is the duty and responsibility of local governments, both provincial and district/city governments, in accordance with existing laws and regulations to provide support.

The support in question is in the form of certainty of programs to be included in the regional government's work plan, provision of budget support and coordination through regular and sustainable monitoring and evaluation.

"Some nearly extinct regional languages must be saved immediately and that is our duty and responsibility," said Suhajar.