[lg policy] bibliogr. item: Sudan: Local languages in schools to promote better understanding

[Harold Schiffman]

Sudan: Local languages in schools to promote better understanding by
Geof Magga,

gives a background to recent changes in languages used for education  in Sudan.
Monday 28 December 2009 http://en.afrik.com/article16686.html

With effect from the 2010 academic year, mother languages will be
included in southern Sudan’s school curricula. Southern Sudan
nationals have expressed satisfaction over the introduction of local
languages into their school curricula by the ministry of education.
They say it will help their children to study better. Amos Longwa, a
parent and also chairperson of Magwe parents association in southern
Sudan said, ”We are happy about the development. English is a foreign
language which is not easliy learnt by children in primary schools.
The children will learn better in their local languages.” The Minister
of Education in the southern Sudan, Job Dhoruai, said during an
interview that “the introduction of mother tongue languages into the
curricula, in primary one to primary three levels, is in accordance
with the Comprehensive Peace Agreement.

The government is committed to the language policy. The teaching of
mother tongue during the formative years in school can increase
children’s understanding.” He said that encouraging mother tongue use
is also the easiest way to end illiteracy in the Southern Sudan. This
effort has been praised by observers who believe that local languages
as part of a wider school curricula will also help students discover
the various mindsets that constitute their environment and promote
national cohesion. Among the languages to start with is the Muru
language. Over eight thousand text books in Muru have been produced by
the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology. Simon Okello, a
primary teacher in Bol primary school in southern Sudan said “It has
not been easy to teach in English in primary one and two. Introducing
local languages in primary schools will make our work easier.”

http://www.sociolingo.com/2010/01/africa-education-sudan-language-policy-change/

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