Steps toward making kiswahili as the language of instruction are suggested. This document assigned different functions to the many nigerian languages in the nations education at various levels. Language policy in tanzania language policy had been thoroughly justified, and no one with any intimate knowledge of the tanzanian scene will have any doubt at all about this. Tanzania has just finalized its information and communication technology ict policy for basic education which incorporates the integrati on of icts in preprimary, primary, secondary and teacher education, as well as nonformal and adult education. People and production in late precolonial tanzania. Current language policy the use of kiswahili and english as languages of instruction in the education system has been a point of much debate over the years. Free and accessible education is a human right in tanzania. This policy framework must therefore cater adequately for the harmonisation of language policy at all three levels of. While the language policies of tanzania are described as confusing, contradictory, and ambiguous, the language policies of south africa seem. Of these policy commitments, the universalization of basic education has by far the largest financial implications, with the requirement to approximately double within a. The government endorsed the 1996 child development policy with the aim of. This paper addresses the language policy and language development in its relation to education in tanzanian 1980s. The tanzanian experience is a typical case that illustrates how language policy and planning is a site of struggle for cultural influence, economic dominance, and political control. The german colonial government changed the kiswahili script from arabic to latin roycampbell, 2001.
Education and training policy part 1 click here foreword preamble part 2 click here aims and objective of education and training system and structure of education and training access and equity in education and training part 3 click here management and. The impact of languagepolicy and practice on children s. Typically, language policy involves decisions about language use in social contexts, usually concerned with. We draw on sound evidence to create programmes, campaigns and initiatives where they are most needed. Language, literacy and learning in tanzanian secondary schools. Malawi and tanzania both have a common interest in the form of a massive reservoir of the most valuable natural resource fresh water.
There is talk also of hydrocarbon deposits but at the very least, the lake is filled with fish. English, at the top of the hierarchy, a regional lingua franca, viz. German colonial policies in mainland tanzania, 18841914. Tanzania dumps english as its official language in schools. Sep 01, 2017 tanzania however points to the large number of tanzanian fishermen and their ancestral burial places in the lake. At the point of transition to secondary school, the language of instruction shifts. The policy development process in tanzania is supposed to use a bottom up approach and to be participatory and consultative so as to ensure that peoples views are accommodated. Language policy for education and development in tanzania pdf. The similarities with other african countries in this struggle are so obvious as to require little restating a conflictual triglossic environment, with the excolonial language, viz. The preservation of the language and culture of minority groups or a national identity can all be impacted, depending on how carefully englishmedium policies are implemented. The medium of instruction in preprimary schools shall be kiswahili, and english shall be a compulsory subject p. Tanzania is on track to achieve the millennium development goal of universal primary education. In this case, overlooking the role of power in any policy engagement is likely to lead to failure. Language policy in tanzania volume 39 issue 3 lyndon harries.
Tanzania with regard to language ineducation policy implementation. In some african states, the costs monetary, human, and temporal of civil war, rapidly varying commodity prices, human resources shortages, the aids epidemic, etc. This paper is a policy analysis courselinked capstone focused on controversial language policies in tanzania. Perspectives language of instruction in higher education. Zanzibar is an archipelago off the coast of tanzania. Introductionthe tanzanian experience is a typical case that illustrates how language policy and planning is a site of struggle for cultural influence, economic dominance, and political control. Current language policy context in tanzania currently, kiswahili is used as the language of instruction for all seven years of primary school, while students are introduced to english as a subject. These countries have a similar history given that they are neighbors and were colonized by the same colonial powerthe british, although the germans colonized tanzania for a short time. Education in tanzania is provided by both the public and private sectors, starting with preprimary education, followed by primary, secondary ordinary, secondary advanced, and ideally, university level education. The tanzanian government began to emphasize the importance of education shortly after its independence in 1961. Also, this policy considers guidelines of sector policies, various strategies and programs and crosscutting issues. The concept language policy means the official regulation of the type of language to use in a given.
In the united republic of tanzania, primary school is instructed in. Some african countries are adopting englishmedium education, seeing it as an important conduit to engaging global investors. Tanzanias language policy problems stem from the roles assigned to kiswahili and english. Since the 1960s the need to put in place a language of instruction policy that favours the use of national language kiswahili as a medium of instruction throughout education system in tanzania has been considered significant. The place of english in tanzanian education system. Muyeeba, k 2004, challenges of making and implementing policy in the multilingual state of zambia, third international conference of the association for the development of african languages in education, science and technology adalest and the fifth malawian national language symposium, university of malawi and gtz, malawi, 167176. In this project the language policies of tanzania and south africa, as well as the practices of these policies in the classroom are. Triglossia and swahilienglish bilingualism in tanzania1. The insights obtained by exploring the historical context and the evolution of tanzania s language of instruction model will help to outline problems created by the current model. Language ideologies and the politics of language in post. Discusses the background of this policy and suggests an alternative, bilingual policy that gives equal weight to kiswahili and english. A part from this domain one can talk about a national, a regional or even an institutional language policy. Tanzania, officially the united republic of tanzania, is a relatively large country in east africa that shares its borders with many countries, including kenya, uganda, rwanda, zambia, malawi, mozambique, burundi and the democratic republic of the congo.
Even where a policy has been formulated, it may not be implemented. Oct 03, 2017 how the english language failed tanzania in 2015, bryson kinyaduka and joyce kiwara, assistant lecturers from mzumbe university, tanzania, carried out research on the effectiveness of the countrys language of instruction system and its impact on the quality of education in secondary schools. Tanzania is a member, with kenya and uganda, of the east african community eac, established by a 1999 treaty, which revived an earlier eac, defunct since 1977. But in spite of the obvious advantages gained, and bearing in mind that tanzania is an independent. Tanzania s preprimary gross enrollment ratio is close to 37. Applied african sociolinguistics, language ideologies, language policies and. English and maltese in malta and swahili and english in tanzania just to mention a few. Language policy in most cases is guided by political expediency rather than the interest of the learners. Language planning in the tanzanian educational system. Stakeholders in the national policy forum acknowledged existence of the preconditions for achievement of sdg 4 in tanzania.
Kiswahili only became the official language of primary education in 1968 after tanzania s independence, and this led to much linguistic discontinuity between primary and secondary education. Language ineducation policy development in tanzania. Since 1968, the medium of instruction in presecondary education has. Specifically, i suggest that swahili should be the language of education in both primary and. Why has the language of instruction policy in tanzania been. Tanzania with the pool of skilled human resources needed to advance to becoming a semiindustrialized middleincome country by 2025. The impact of languagepolicy and practice on childrens learning. Languageineducation policy development in tanzania. The eac treaty provides for the creation of a range of regional development, economic policy cooperation, trade. English is the language of diplomacy and also the medium of instruction in secondary and postsecondary education. The aim of this policy is to clarify the position of the tanzanian government when it comes to the place of the different languages of tanzania in the formal. Inequities in education, health, water, sanitation and protection from violence exist at multiple levels, including a childs place of residence, gender and family socioeconomic status. Language policies and practices in tanzania and south africa.
Whatever the area of research one is in, be it linguistics, anthropology, geography, archaeology, or even sociology, knowledge of swahili and its many varieties is essential if one is. According to the official national linguistic policy announced in 1984, swahili is the language of the social and political sphere as well as primary and adult education, whereas english is the language of secondary education, universities, technology, and higher courts. Language policies and practices in tanzania and south. Language policy and planning the tanzania experience. Pdf language policies and practices in tanzania and. After the th year of secondary school students may take the advanced certificate exam and attend college for 3 to 4 years. This paper examines language policy in tanzanian schools and its effect on education, equality and economic development. Language policy for education and development in tanzania. This chapter examines education language policy debates in three east african countries. Child development policy tanzania second edition march, 2008. While the language policies of tanzania are described as confusing, contradictory, and ambiguous, the language policies of south africa seem clearer and more progressive. Unless children are enrolled in private primary education which is taught in english, language comes as a barrier to pursuing higher education.
The purpose of this research is to identify the relationship between tanzania s language policy and the effects on students in secondary school. The study of swahili also provides interesting issues regarding language policies and language planning. A national language is understood as the medium that is accessible to a large section of the relevant nation mainly because it has cultural roots among the people of that nation and so it. Introductionthe tanzanian experience is a typical case that illustrates how language policy and planning is a site of struggle for cultural influence, economic. The fact that there is a policy on feefree education education and training policy of 2014 for 11 years, national inclusive strategy and gender policy etc. The implementation of the objectives of the national land policy depends on the countries laws. The historic thrust of tanzania s egalitarian policy is undermined by deep social disparities which limit childrens access to services and life chances. The arguments of those who favour the use of english as the medium of instruction are analysed within the framework of the prevailing sociolinguistic environment, and counter. Jan 01, 2004 the official language in education policy that is currently being followed in tanzania is the one laid down in the education and training policy which, inter alia, states. Policy and strategy development process still exclude the majority group in the biomass ics sub sector constituency. Potential collaboration between public, private and citizen sectors is still. Education and training policy tanzania online gateway. Classroom practices, text books, assessments, as well as the school environment make learning english in africa an uphill task. The authors of the present article are engaged in a research project funded by the norwegian research council.
Eric ej561949 the failure of language policy in tanzanian. Tanzania population 2021 demographics, maps, graphs. Three languages with both varying and overlapping roles interact, creating a triglossia situation. Research and reports unicef eastern and southern africa. Policy makers hardly think of learners when formulating neither language policies nor do curriculum developers. Therefore, the practice in schools is that monolingual education dominates and the idea of bilingual education appears farfetched to practioners in the education sector. Language policies and practices in tanzania and south africa published on 7 february 2020 this working paper explores the politics of choices of a language of instruction in tanzania,arguing that it is a choice that could result in distribution of power between the elites and the masses. Language policy and planning in botswana, malawi, mozambique. This paper proposes the 5050 model as a way forward for implementing strong bilingual education in.
Tanzanias language policy and the effects on students in secondary school. Lwaitama et al reflections on recent developments in language policy in tanzania, j. Pdf language policy and planning the tanzania experience. The name tanzania itself derives from the countrys two states, zanzibar and tanganyika. In 1977, an official document titled national policy on education was promulgated which was revised in 1981, 1998 and 2004. Although this practice is quite old in the history of formal education, due to economic constraints. It is generally understood that swahili is the official national langu. The similarities with other african countries in this struggle are. I go on to explore the failings of educational language policy as it now stands, focusing on the jarring transition from swahilimedium primary school to englishmedium secondary school. Secondary school students are only taught in english. Education and training policy part 1 click here foreword preamble part 2 click here aims and objective of education and training system and structure of education and training access and equity in education and training part 3 click here management and administration of education and training. The language policy is based on the following principles. Given this premise, this study examines language policy and the important role it plays within the classroom, as well as across the educational system. Tanzania adopts swahili as the official language of.
It formulated to promote multilingualism, to ensure that languages are not barriers to access and success in higher education and to encourage the. The eac treaty provides for the creation of a range of regional development, economic policy cooperation, trade, and political coordination initiatives and entities. Policy processes in relation to language in tanzania. Kenya, tanzania, and uganda in the context of globalization. Mar 05, 2015 the policy is the opposite of the trend in the region, for example. Access is almost universal and the primary completion rate is close to 90 percent. The failure of language policy in tanzanian schools. More often than not, the draft is in a language that may not be easily accessible to the general public, or the stakeholders may not have been. Pdf language policies and practices in tanzania and south. The feefree primary education policy has had a positive impact by boosting both access and retention. Sep 14, 2010 after this background, language policy in the tanzanian educational system is looked at in some detail. The paper aims to explore the language of instruction policy dilemma, its negative effects on tanzania s social economic development and propose a possible solution. Childrens situational analysis right to survival 4 right to development 6.
Considers the controversy over english or kiswahili the national language as the language of instruction in tanzania, discussing language use, language policy in the educational system, and prevailing language attitudes. Rubagumya on the history of english language teaching in tanzania three theses, a. It is generally understood that swahili is the official national language of the republic of tanzania. While the national language in tanzania is swahili, english is taught, along with swahili, math and science, in primary schools. Unicef supports and uses research, evaluations and data to determine what works best for children in eastern and southern africa.
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