Namibia: Mother Tongue Project Distributes Thousands of Books

[Harold Schiffman]

Mother Tongue Project Distributes Thousands of Books
By Wezi Tjaronda
WINDHOEK

Some 750 000 teaching and learning textbooks from Grades 1 to 3 have
been distributed to schools since the start of the Basic Education
Programme (BEP) Upgrading African Languages Project (Afrila) in
October 2000, which has improved the textbook learner ratio. The
project aimed at improving literacy and numeracy in learners in the
mother tongue and also to promote the acquisition of English as a
second language before English becomes the medium of instruction from
Grade 4 onwards. It is believed that the language spoken at home by a
learner is an important prerequisite to success in learning. The
project has developed new teaching and learning materials in six
target languages, namely, Kukwangali, Rumanyo, Thimbukushu,
Otjiherero, Silozi and Khoekhoegowab, but also in Oshindonga and
Oshikwanyama for grades 1 to 3.

Last month, the Afrila project launched literacy, mathematics and
environmental studies textbooks for grades 1 to 3 in six target
languages. The textbooks are based on the revised lower primary
curriculum and the new subject syllabus, to contribute to the
strengthening of mother tongue education in the foundation phase.
Launching the books, Undersecretary for Formal Education in the
Ministry of Education, Alfred Ilukena, said language was the most
important tool for thinking, a means of communication and one of the
most important aspects of identity. "A high level of communication in
one's language is a prerequisite in a knowledge-based society," he
said. Ilukena said learners also learnt best through their mother
tongues in the formative years of schooling and would master English
if they have mastered their mother tongue first.

"The purpose of the lower primary phase is to lay a foundation for
learning throughout the formal education system. If the foundation
which is laid in these four years is good, the learners will be well
prepared to continue learning," he said, adding that this would also
enable children to develop self-confidence and self-worth through
personal and social development during this phase. The Afrila project
coordinator, Andreas Schott, who also bade farewell since the project
has come to an end, said the project supported the ministry and NIED
to implement the Language Policy for Schools to improve the quality of
mother tongue education in the lower primary phase.

The project has made available over 350 publications."This in itself
should alone increase the effectiveness of teaching in the lower
primary classroom combined with a learner-centred pedagogy in which
the textbooks are the basis as the guiding pedagogical paradigm," said
Schott.
However, he recommended that an impact study be conducted to determine
how the materials have improved the performance of the learners and
also that the ministry should incorporate necessary activities for
mother tongue education in the lower primary phase into ETSIP planning
through a second language policy and a feasible textbook policy.

The project was financed by the German Technical Cooperation (GTZ).

http://sociolingolinguistics.wordpress.com/2008/02/05/namibia-mother-tongue-project-distributes-thousands-of-books/
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