2 Language is everything – it is power, it is identity, it is opportunity. It is who we are in community with others. And yet around the world minority languages, and particularly indigenous languages, are disappearing at an accelerated pace. It is often not because of natural factors, but because there have been over long periods of times measures, policies, practices and laws that have not allowed these languages to be used in education, and even directly and quite intentionally prohibited to be used in most areas of public life. Those days should be gone, because minorities like everyone else have fundamental human rights, and as we’ll be hearing these can have significant consequences in the area of the language used in education. While we can and should be critical when these are not fully recognised and applied, we should be looking more towards the future and be offering recommendations, and good practices in different countries, on how and also why language in a child’s own language can in the end be beneficial for everyone – even society at large in terms of the economy, development, unity and stability. Mister President, in terms of research in the field of learning, it is widely accepted that education in the language of the child is likely to lead to better school results, including in relation to learning the national language and other languages. The majority of children will remain longer in school, have more success in their classes, and, on average, feel more at ease, better understand and appreciate education carried out in their own language, and finally be better equipped to be able to learn other languages, including the official or majority language of their place of residence. To be clear, it is also probably the best way to ensure quality education for all. [Monsieur le président, au niveau de la recherche dans le domaine de l’apprentissage, il est largement acquis que l’enseignement dans la langue d’un enfant est susceptible de mener aux meilleurs résultats scolaires, y compris pour ce qui est de l’apprentissage de la langue nationale et de d’autres langues. La plupart des enfants vont demeurer plus longtemps à l’école, mieux réussir leurs cours et en moyenne se sentir plus à l’aise, enfin mieux comprendre et apprécier l’enseignement qui se fait dans leur propre langue, et enfin être mieux équipé pour pouvoir apprendre d’autres langues – y compris la langue officielle ou celle de la majorité ou ils vivent.