Bandung, 23 February 2026 - The Faculty of Language and Literature Education (FPBS) at Universitas Pendidikan Indonesia (UPI) commemorated International Mother Language Day on Monday, 23 February 2026, at 4:00 PM WIB through a group walk from the FPBS Building to the Achmad Sanusi Building (BPU), the National Education Museum, and the Isola Building.
The activity, initiated by the Sundanese Language Education Study Program, took place in a lively and spirited atmosphere. Throughout the walk, students and lecturers of Sundanese Language Education sang Sundanese songs together, creating a warm atmosphere and evoking pride in the mother tongue as a cultural identity.
At each stopping point (the BPU Building, the National Education Museum, and the Isola Building), the program featured orations and recitations of Sundanese poetry by representatives of lecturers and students, one lecturer and one student at each location. The poetry readings served as both a reflective and expressive moment, affirming the significance of the mother tongue as a cultural heritage, a means of expression, and a symbol of communal identity.
The event was also attended by faculty leaders, lecturers, and students from the Sundanese Language Education Study Program. The presence of five international students from France and Mikihiro Moriyama as an adjunct professor from Japan further enriched the commemoration with an international dimension. Their participation demonstrated that regional languages are not only relevant in a local context, but also hold academic appeal and value on a global scale.
This commemoration of International Mother Language Day serves as a reminder that preserving regional languages is a shared responsibility. The mother tongue does not merely function as a tool for communication, but also as a means of transmitting values, culture, and the worldview of a community.
This activity aligns with UPI’s commitment to supporting the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 4 (Quality Education) through strengthening education grounded in local culture, and SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities) in efforts to preserve and sustain cultural heritage as part of sustainable development.
Through this commemoration, FPBS UPI once again affirms its role as a frontline force in the development, preservation, and elevation of regional languages and literature amid the currents of globalization.