Dissertation notice: Language and Education in Mali

[Harold F. Schiffman]

Forwarded from Linguist-List, Date: 25-Oct-2005


Institution: University of Reading Program: Institute of Education
Dissertation Status: Completed Degree Date: 2003

Author: Maggie Canvin

Dissertation Title: Language and Education in Mali: A consideration of two
approaches

Dissertation Abstract:

Issues surrounding the decision of which language/s to use in formal
education are of great importance to education policy makers in developing
countries. However, this area is often ignored in studies of education
systems. This study explores issues surrounding linguistic diversity and
its implications for education, together with political concerns about
language and resultant government language policies. Many countries in
sub-Saharan Africa, such as Mali, are linguistically complex and have low
literacy rates. These countries are concerned about the high levels of
drop-outs and retakes in their school systems. In order to alleviate this,
many have tried the introduction of indigenous languages in a variety of
bilingual education programmes. One such programme, Pdagogie Convergente,
combines the use of indigenous languages with an innovative pedagogy. This
study contributes to the debate on linguistic diversity and language and
education in Mali in Mali by researching the Pdagogie Convergente
approach, and contrasting this with the Traditional French approach still
being used in most Malian schools. It does this by focussing on the
realities of everyday school life in one school complex. Data was
collected using a variety of ethnographic research methods, including
classroom observations, interviews, questionnaires and various recording
techniques.  The study concludes that Pdagogie Convergente appears to
deliver a better education for Mali because students pass through the
system more quickly, fewer drop out and students receive a better
educational experience. But it argues that there are factors other than
language and that the new pedagogy needs to be taken into account when
evaluating the true benefit of the innovative approach.