Translation of educational material for migrants

Abstract

Having access to a classroom where the education is being offered in their mother tongues is a non-negotiable right of the migrants. The growing number of migrants all over the world, with speedier continuum in developed countries, highlights the need for having sufficient and proper educational materials in migrants’ originating languages in host countries. To address this need, strategic planning for developing and disseminating educational material is of urgent priority. That the translation plays an undeniable role in such plan is truly undeniable, but the point to be emphasized here is that the strategists, education policy-makers of the host countries, and the translators should identify and incorporate into translation projects the most pressing educational needs of students. The emphasis would better be placed on developing materials as part of a strategic initiative to publicize education in their native languages, and reach an educational system that, while being easily integrated to hosting society aim-wise, is in full consistency with the migrant community social and cultural-wise. A comprehensive approach for selection of educational material for translation should take into account the societal, economic, religious and organizational factors that define the environment in which the translated educational material are to be provided to students. Material development would ideally be in the context of a plan that considers the significant cultural barriers that a migrant student usually encounters in the hosting society. It is one thing to say the world has a moral responsibility to protect migrant languages; it is another thing to act upon it.