[lg policy] Uganda: Language policy is undecided

[Harold Schiffman]

Uganda language policy is undecided.

Government recognizes that the diversity of local languages in Uganda
makes it dificult for the country to achieve rapid universal and
democratized education, literacy for all, intellectualisation of all
the people as well as the attainment of the much needed national
unity. This is because of the conflicting aims and prejudices
resulting from deficient views and outlooks of life as well as narrow
and selflsh interest, that have made it dificult for the country to
develop a common language for Uganda. There are 56 languages
recognized in the national Constitution of the Republic Uganda of
1995. This diversity has been one of the most influential causes of
social conflicts in the country. But at the same time government
endorses the view that African languages should be developed as
national media of communication and as much as possible, also as the
media for instruction, for pedagogic and cultural reasons and
beneflts. Government, is strongly convinced that in order to develop a
genuinely rich national culture and achieve national unity and rapid
development, Uganda’s language policy in education must be centred
around the emphatic and deliberate development of a national and
educational language policy that can contribute to the development of
greater patriotism, nationalism and pan Africanism among citizens,
leading to the achievement of increased and beneflcial communication
and cooperation among the various ethnic groups in the country and
beyond Uganda’s borders. Consequently Government for now and in the
absence of a national language accepts the position that the mother
tongue is used as a medium of instruction in all educational
programmes; English will be taught as a subject from primary one. From
primary flve onwards, English becomes the medium of instruction. In
rural areas the medium of instruction from primary one to four is the
relevant local community languages. In urban areas the medium of
instruction is English throughout the primary cycle. Kiswahili and
English would be taught as compulsory subjects to all children
throughout the primary school cycle, both in rural and urban areas but
Kiswahili appears to lag behind because of lack of teachers proflcient
in the language and learning materials. Arising out of this policy
position, it is expected that in future, writing and publishing in
local languages may improve. To develop the Ugandan languages
government is intent to establish a national Advisory ...

more at: http://tutajua.com/?p=70

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