Yumna: Foster love for Dhivehi language when you stay home

Minister of Arts, Culture and Heritage Yumna Maumoon, on Tuesday, urged parents to make good use of the stay home recommendation by fostering a love for the Dhivehi language in their children.

Maldives declared a state of public health emergency over the COVID-19 pandemic on March 12, and has closed schools and government offices to urge self-isolation and social distancing and prevent an outbreak of the deadly disease within local communities.

This Tuesday marks the Dhivehi Language Day, an occasion which under normal circumstances would have been celebrated in schools nationwide.

Yumna, in a tweet to convey Dhivehi Language Day greetings, urged parents to make use of the time home to foster a love for the Dhivehi language in their children.

This can be done by communicating in Dhivehi, and by telling stories in Dhivehi, she suggested.

“During your time home, communicate to children in Dhivehi language or dialects. Allow them to express themselves. Listen to them,” she urged.

Yumna also advised parents to have their children to read books written in the Dhivehi language.

“Dhivehi language is an instrument which unites people of all ages and of different means who live in different islands and atolls,” said Yumna.