English, Education and Colonialism

From Zambian Economist Mon Jan 21 2013, 06:00:00

By Chola Mukanga

Proponents of multilingual education have received a high profile support in form of Justice Minister Wynter Kabimba. He is calling for local languages to be made more prominent in the education curriculum :

"We have to address this imbalance. As the PF, we are determined to see to it that we eliminate the use of English as a language of instructions in our schools and replace it with our own Zambian languages...What we have is a colonial hangover. If you remember in 1884 during the Berlin Conference to partition Africa, European countries decided to divide Africa especially Sub Saharan Africa. Some African countries were turned into English speaking nations, others became French speaking while countries like Mozambique were turned into Portuguese speaking countries. This was done in order to manage us as Africans.They had to impose this English language on our forefathers but what is shocking is that Zambian intellectuals even those at University have not raised this question that the English language has been used as a tool of captivity."

Zambia National Union of Teachers has welcomed the "PF government's intention to introduce a policy that will promote local languages as the only medium of instruction in schools" (emphasis added) . Adding that they are ready to work with the PF government in ensuring that the policy is developed. It cannot be denied that Mr Kabimba has a point that there are huge benefits to learning in your indigenous language. A UNESCO advocacy report of 2010 made a similar case, with better nuance :

[view whole blog post ]
 See More    |     Report Abuse


You might also be interested in the following news stories:

Africa:  TotalEnergies At 100 - a Legacy of Destruction in Africa (analysis)
African Arguments
28 March 2024

Displacements, environmental damage, and CO2 emissions from projects in Mozambique and Uganda are just the latest chapter in a long story. Today, 28 March 2024, marks 100 years of the French oil and ... [read more]

Mozambique:  Typist Stabbed to Death in GilĂ© (news)
Mozambique News Reports And Clippings
28 March 2024

The police on 26 March reported the fatal stabbing of a typist at voter registration post no. 259, located in the Napote EP1, in Muiane locality, in the Alto Ligonha administrative post, in ... [read more]

Mozambique:  Many Registration Posts Have Reopened in Maputo (news)
Mozambique News Reports And Clippings
28 March 2024

Our correspondents report that many of the registration posts that were not working in the city and province of Maputo Monday due to torrential rains had reopened on Wednesday. In Maputo city, the ... [read more]



blogAfrica is allAfrica.com's platform to help you keep an ear on the African blogosphere. We draw diverse voices from around the world who post regularly and insightfully about African issues. Bloggers, submit your blog's rss-feed!