Challenges of African Languages in Education: The Case of Kiswahili in Tanzania
Corresponding Author(s) : Benedictor Lema
Journal of Humanities & Social Science (JHSS),
Vol. 2 No. 2 (2013)
Abstract
Tanzania presents a perfect case of former colonies that have strived to redress colonial
legacies. The Africanization policy adopted after independence and cemented in the 1967
Arusha Declaration was a deliberate move to replace foreign workforce and practices with
African values. Education was one of the sectors that needed and, indeed, received a lot of
transformations. This paper particularly discusses language practices in the education
system in Tanzania in that context. While both theory and practice favour Kiswahili as a
medium of instruction at all levels of education, policy seems to work to the contrary. The
discussion revolves around the most debated and controversial view that Kiswahili deserves
to take over English as the Language of Instruction (LoI) in Tanzania. The paper draws
heavily from sociolinguistic facts, and argues that Kiswahili still faces significant challenges
in its bid to replace English in secondary and tertiary institutions. The paper comes to a
conclusion by positing that despite the support extended to Kiswahili, the language needs
more than what has been done, should it penetrate academic and professional markets,
both locally and globally, mainly because stakeholders have been pulled by the ever
increasing demand and market of the English language around the globe.
Keywords
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- Abdulaziz, O. A. 2004. Future of the Arabic Language. Publications of the Islamic
- Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization –ISESCO– 1425 A.H. / 2004 A.D.
- Chiraghdin, S. & M. Mnyampala. 1977. Historia ya Kiswahili. Oxford University Press, Nairobi.
- Eleuthera, S. (undated). Language Policy for Education and Development in
- Tanzania. Swarthmore College.
- Guthrie, M. 1967–71. Comparative Bantu: An Introduction to the Comparative Linguistics and Prehistory
- of the Bantu Languages. 4 vols. Farnborough: Gregg Press.
- Heine, B. 1990. Kiswahili [from Sprache, Gesselschsft und Communikation],Tr. Abed S.
- Tandika. In Legère, K (ed.) 1990: 25–48.
- Khamisi, A.M. 1974. Swahili as a National Language. In Towards Ujamaa pp. 288–308. Edited by G.
- Ruhumbika, Kampala, Nairobi & Dare s Salaam:EAPH.
- Legère, Karsten (ed) The Role of Language in Literacy Programs with Special Reference to
- Kiswahili in Eastern Africa. A Contribution to the International Literacy Year. DSE,
- BAKITA, Kenya Kiswahili Association, Goethe Institut-Nairobi.
- Mbaabu, I. 1991. Historia ya Usanifishaji wa Kiswahili. Nairobi: Longman.
- Moshi, L. 2006. The Globalized World Languages: The Case of Kiswahili. In Olaoba F.
- Arasanyin and Michael A. Pemberton (eds.), Selected Proceedings of the 36th Annual
- Conference on African Linguistics,166–175. Somerville, MA: Cascadilla Proceedings Project.
- Muhdhar, R. 2002. English medium schools in Zanzibar: In search for linguistic capital?
- Unpublished Undergraduate Dissertation, University of Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.
- Mulokozi, M. M. 2007. Kiswahili as a National and International Language.
- www.helsinki.fi/hum/ aakl/documents/kiswahili.pdf .
- Peterson, R. K. 2005. The Use of an African Language as Language of Instruction at University Level:
- The Example of Kiswahili Department at the University of Dar-es-Salaam in Tanzania. Paper for
- Presentation at the Netereed Conference, Beitostolen Hotel, December 5th–8th, 2005.
- Rubagumya, C.M. 2003. English medium primary schools in Tanzania: A New Linguistic
- Market in Education? In B. Brock–Utne, M. Qorro and Z. Desai (eds.) Language of
- Instruction in Tanzania and South Africa (LOITASA. Dar es Salaam: E&D Limited.
- Rugemalira, J.M. 2005. Theoretical and practical challenges in a Tanzanian English Medium
- Primary School, Africa and Asia, pp. 66–84.
- Rugemalira, J. & H.R.T. Muzale. 2009. Atlasi ya Lugha za Tanzania. LOT Publications.
- Kazaura, B. 1994. Constraining factors to the Adoption of Kiswahili as a Language of
- the Law in Tanzania. AAP:109–126.
- Whiteley, W. 1969. Swahili: the Rise of a National Language. London: Methuen.
References
Abdulaziz, O. A. 2004. Future of the Arabic Language. Publications of the Islamic
Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization –ISESCO– 1425 A.H. / 2004 A.D.
Chiraghdin, S. & M. Mnyampala. 1977. Historia ya Kiswahili. Oxford University Press, Nairobi.
Eleuthera, S. (undated). Language Policy for Education and Development in
Tanzania. Swarthmore College.
Guthrie, M. 1967–71. Comparative Bantu: An Introduction to the Comparative Linguistics and Prehistory
of the Bantu Languages. 4 vols. Farnborough: Gregg Press.
Heine, B. 1990. Kiswahili [from Sprache, Gesselschsft und Communikation],Tr. Abed S.
Tandika. In Legère, K (ed.) 1990: 25–48.
Khamisi, A.M. 1974. Swahili as a National Language. In Towards Ujamaa pp. 288–308. Edited by G.
Ruhumbika, Kampala, Nairobi & Dare s Salaam:EAPH.
Legère, Karsten (ed) The Role of Language in Literacy Programs with Special Reference to
Kiswahili in Eastern Africa. A Contribution to the International Literacy Year. DSE,
BAKITA, Kenya Kiswahili Association, Goethe Institut-Nairobi.
Mbaabu, I. 1991. Historia ya Usanifishaji wa Kiswahili. Nairobi: Longman.
Moshi, L. 2006. The Globalized World Languages: The Case of Kiswahili. In Olaoba F.
Arasanyin and Michael A. Pemberton (eds.), Selected Proceedings of the 36th Annual
Conference on African Linguistics,166–175. Somerville, MA: Cascadilla Proceedings Project.
Muhdhar, R. 2002. English medium schools in Zanzibar: In search for linguistic capital?
Unpublished Undergraduate Dissertation, University of Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.
Mulokozi, M. M. 2007. Kiswahili as a National and International Language.
www.helsinki.fi/hum/ aakl/documents/kiswahili.pdf .
Peterson, R. K. 2005. The Use of an African Language as Language of Instruction at University Level:
The Example of Kiswahili Department at the University of Dar-es-Salaam in Tanzania. Paper for
Presentation at the Netereed Conference, Beitostolen Hotel, December 5th–8th, 2005.
Rubagumya, C.M. 2003. English medium primary schools in Tanzania: A New Linguistic
Market in Education? In B. Brock–Utne, M. Qorro and Z. Desai (eds.) Language of
Instruction in Tanzania and South Africa (LOITASA. Dar es Salaam: E&D Limited.
Rugemalira, J.M. 2005. Theoretical and practical challenges in a Tanzanian English Medium
Primary School, Africa and Asia, pp. 66–84.
Rugemalira, J. & H.R.T. Muzale. 2009. Atlasi ya Lugha za Tanzania. LOT Publications.
Kazaura, B. 1994. Constraining factors to the Adoption of Kiswahili as a Language of
the Law in Tanzania. AAP:109–126.
Whiteley, W. 1969. Swahili: the Rise of a National Language. London: Methuen.