Work

Education and Regional Languages in Indonesia: Between Necessity, Indifference and Regret

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: This article presents the language and, in particular, educational policies implemented in Indonesia since 1945 with regard to regional languages. The rise of the national language, Indonesian (Bahasa Indonesia), to undisputed status, now spoken and understood by almost the entire population, has gone hand in hand with a significant decline in the other indigenous languages of the archipelago, all of which have the status of regional languages. The prevailing attitude, both within educational structures and as expressed in normative texts, has been one of general indifference on the part of key stakeholders (educators, policymakers, politicians) toward regional languages. However, until the 1990s, this indifference, sometimes tinged with hostility, gradually shifted toward a more positive stance, marked by an increasing awareness of issues related to local identity, linguistic diversity, and the interests of children.

Source: Moussons

DOI: 10.4000/147jp

Author: Jérôme Samuel

Institutions: Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Institut National des Langues et Civilisations Orientales, Center for Southeast Asian Studies, Research Institute on Contemporary Southeast Asia

Language: English

Topic: Multilingual Education and Policy

Subfield: Linguistics and Language

Field: Social Sciences

Domain: Social Sciences

SDG: Quality education

Open Access status: diamond

OpenAlex ID: W4411629565

FWCI:

Cites: 21

Cited by:

Related to: 10