[lg policy] Zambia: Use of local languages in lower grades a success

[Harold Schiffman]

 Use of local languages in lower grades a success
February 12, 2018
44
<https://www.lusakatimes.com/2018/02/12/use-local-languages-lower-grades-success/#comments>
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[image: THE recent implementation of the revised national education
curriculum by Government, which introduced teaching of local language
syllabus from Pre-School to Grade four level in Primary Schools, is
progressing well in Choma district, Southern Province. Above, Grade One
pupils at Kalundu Ka Maria Primary School were found cheerfully learning
how to construct sentences in Citonga in their classroom.]
<https://i2.wp.com/www.lusakatimes.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/Local-language-1.jpg?ssl=1>THE
recent implementation of the revised national education curriculum by
Government, which introduced teaching of local language syllabus from
Pre-School to Grade four level in Primary Schools, is progressing well in
Choma district, Southern Province. Above, Grade One pupils at Kalundu Ka
Maria Primary School were found cheerfully learning how to construct
sentences in Citonga in their classroom.

Ministry of General Education Director of Standards and Curriculum Sunday
Mwape says the policy by government to change the teaching strategies from
English to local languages in lower grades has been a success.

Dr. Mwape said that children in lower grades are now able to write without
difficulties because it is easy for a child to link the outdoor experiences
to the classroom activities.

Speaking in an interview with ZANIS in Lusaka today, Dr. Mwape stated that
lower grades are now producing better results since the change was
implemented.

He said the quality of teaching and learning at classroom level was
affected when teaching was done in the English language to learners.

“Children are more comfortable to interact and learn when the language
being used is best understood by the child,” he said.

Dr. Mwape stated that according to a research that was conducted by
specialists in the teaching profession, it was revealed that it is prudent
to restructure the teaching and learning strategies for learners.

The Director of Standards stated that the curriculum is helpful to children
who do not have a chance of attending early childhood education as it helps
them to move the home culture into school.

Dr. Mwape further expressed concern that parents have been misunderstanding
the policy noting that this has been the main challenge the Ministry is
facing.

He said the local language curriculum is not an issue that will soon be
changed but a policy that will be followed as it has turned out to be
helpful.


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 Harold F. Schiffman

Professor Emeritus of
 Dravidian Linguistics and Culture
Dept. of South Asia Studies
University of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, PA 19104-6305

Phone:  (215) 898-7475
Fax:  (215) 573-2138

Email:  haroldfs at gmail.com
http://ccat.sas.upenn.edu/~haroldfs/

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