Education policy in our country

[emie emie]

I wish to contribute my two cents to the debate that has been triggered by the recent decision of our Government to make far reaching changes in the education policy in our country. This change has led to the replacement of English as a medium of instruction in primary and secondary schools with our very own Kiswahili.

As someone who was educated in a developed foreign country that uses its own indigenous language as a medium of instruction from Kindergarten to University, you would expect I would be supportive of this big change.

And to be fair, I have always believed that being able to acquire and to impart knowledge in local languages is a mark of progress and cultural maturity, not backwardness or weakness.

After all, most developed nations from North America through Europe, Asia and Latin America to Arabia use their own languages as medium of instruction for all stages of schooling.

So why am I upset by the new change? It is because I don't believe the changes were made in good faith nor was enough preparation done to make sure all systems are in place and ready and we are not going to put current and future generations of Tanzanians at a disadvantage from which they will not be able to recover easily

Secondly, the arguments made by the proponents of the new policy in justifying this change are devoid of logic and paint a picture of a people who have very little or no understanding of the fact that we live today in a globalised world where Tanzanians do not have the luxury of being able to create their own reality that can be kept safe from the effects of competitive forces that are a dominant feature of today's life.

I also suspect that the change may be nothing more than a knee jerk reaction of policy makers to the steadily falling pass rates at both primary and secondary school levels over the past twenty years and is therefore a wrong solution to the problem.

Just as you cannot cure a gangrene wound by applying aspirin to it, you cannot turn around Tanzania's failing education system by replacing English with Swahili as a medium of instruction, much as I would love to see that in another life where all other problems have been attended to.

I agree with Biyi Bandele, a London based African blogger who had the following to say about Tanzania's new education policy:

"Until every single Mathematical theorem and every single theory in astrophysics and cosmology, and in medicine, and in chemistry, and in every single sphere of knowledge is written or available in translation in Kiswahili and Igbo and every other African language, I personally will always reject and abhor that easy [and easily comforting, xenophobic language] that dresses itself in the ultimately empty, and cheap, and hokey, and cheaply sentimental rhetoric of noble nationalism. I've been to Tanzania, and I've been to Zanzibar.

And I've been to many countries in east Africa. What Tanzania needs now, what East Africa needs now, and what Africa needs now isn't another instance of brainless, reflexive, macho posturing [which this is].

What we need, what we really need, is to have tens of thousands -millions -of our best minds, schooled, not only in Swahili, Hausa, Xhosa, and Yoruba, and every major African language but also in English, German, French, Spanish, Portuguese, and in Urdu, Hindi, Arabic, Farsi, Chinese and Japanese, and in every single language on this little planet called earth, where knowledge, not just cheap, populist, propaganda, is disseminated" There is also the issue of fairness and honesty or lack of it.

I am very curious to see if those responsible for this policy change are going to move their children from the private English Medium schools to the Kiswahili-only public schools where the rest of the country's children go. I very much doubt they will.

This policy may sound great and even patriotic but it will spell disaster for the development of the Tanzanian human resource on whose strength the very future of this country depends

It is not too late to pause and reflect on the implications of what has just been done. Rwanda changed the medium of instruction in schools from French to English which was a good decision because in everything that matters (books, systems, teachers), English is very well resourced even in Rwanda and the change did not cause any major disruptions at all.

I can say with confidence that if Rwanda had instead changed the medium of instruction from French to Rwandese, it would not be the much admired fastest growing African economy it is today

The change from French to English was a step up, not a step down as will be the case with Tanzania's policy choices.

Let's pause and think and ultimately make decisions that will allow Tanzanians to grow.

A.M
Dar es Salaam.

 

[prince uweri]

I wish to contribute my two cents to the debate that has been triggered by the recent decision of our kuthubutuGovernment to make far reaching changes in the education policy in our country. This change has led to the replacement of English as a medium of instruction in primary and secondary schools with our very own Kiswahili.

As someone who was educated in a developed foreign country that uses its own indigenous language as a medium of instruction from Kindergarten to University, you would expect I would be supportive of this big change.

And to be fair, I have always believed that being able to acquire and to impart knowledge in local languages is a mark of progress and cultural maturity, not backwardness or weakness.

After all, most developed nations from North America through Europe, Asia and Latin America to Arabia use their own languages as medium of instruction for all stages of schooling.

So why am I upset by the new change? It is because I don't believe the changes were made in good faith nor was enough preparation done to make sure all systems are in place and ready and we are not going to put current and future generations of Tanzanians at a disadvantage from which they will not be able to recover easily

Secondly, the arguments made by the proponents of the new policy in justifying this change are devoid of logic and paint a picture of a people who have very little or no understanding of the fact that we live today in a globalised world where Tanzanians do not have the luxury of being able to create their own reality that can be kept safe from the effects of competitive forces that are a dominant feature of today's life.

I also suspect that the change may be nothing more than a knee jerk reaction of policy makers to the steadily falling pass rates at both primary and secondary school levels over the past twenty years and is therefore a wrong solution to the problem.

Just as you cannot cure a gangrene wound by applying aspirin to it, you cannot turn around Tanzania's failing education system by replacing English with Swahili as a medium of instruction, much as I would love to see that in another life where all other problems have been attended to.

I agree with Biyi Bandele, a London based African blogger who had the following to say about Tanzania's new education policy:

"Until every single Mathematical theorem and every single theory in astrophysics and cosmology, and in medicine, and in chemistry, and in every single sphere of knowledge is written or available in translation in Kiswahili and Igbo and every other African language, I personally will always reject and abhor that easy [and easily comforting, xenophobic language] that dresses itself in the ultimately empty, and cheap, and hokey, and cheaply sentimental rhetoric of noble nationalism. I've been to Tanzania, and I've been to Zanzibar.

And I've been to many countries in east Africa. What Tanzania needs now, what East Africa needs now, and what Africa needs now isn't another instance of brainless, reflexive, macho posturing [which this is].

What we need, what we really need, is to have tens of thousands -millions -of our best minds, schooled, not only in Swahili, Hausa, Xhosa, and Yoruba, and every major African language but also in English, German, French, Spanish, Portuguese, and in Urdu, Hindi, Arabic, Farsi, Chinese and Japanese, and in every single language on this little planet called earth, where knowledge, not just cheap, populist, propaganda, is disseminated" There is also the issue of fairness and honesty or lack of it.

I am very curious to see if those responsible for this policy change are going to move their children from the private English Medium schools to the Kiswahili-only public schools where the rest of the country's children go. I very much doubt they will.

This policy may sound great and even patriotic but it will spell disaster for the development of the Tanzanian human resource on whose strength the very future of this country depends

It is not too late to pause and reflect on the implications of what has just been done. Rwanda changed the medium of instruction in schools from French to English which was a good decision because in everything that matters (books, systems, teachers), English is very well resourced even in Rwanda and the change did not cause any major disruptions at all.

I can say with confidence that if Rwanda had instead changed the medium of instruction from French to Rwandese, it would not be the much admired fastest growing African economy it is today

The change from French to English was a step up, not a step down as will be the case with Tanzania's policy choices.

Let's pause and think and ultimately make decisions that will allow Tanzanians to grow.

A.M
Dar es Salaam.

Du.....hii ngumu kumeza. Ni kweli kiswahili ni chetu na hakuna mwingine wa kukiendeleza zaidi yetu. Lakini ukweli unaotuumiza ni kuzidi kuwa isolated zaidi. ni nani atabisha kuwa kwa sasa hakuna mtanzania anayeweza kusimama kwa confidence kabisa kucompete na watu wengine ndani ya hii kanda yetu? Huwa ni kwa nini kama siyo lugha jamani? Sasa hali ni hivi ambapo lugha tunayotumia ni hiyo hiyo wanayotumia wenzetu. Sasa tutapoamua kuitosa kabisa si ndo basi tena. Acheni kuchukua maamuzi ya kuja kusumbua kizazi kijacho bana.

 

[Kifyatu]

You are absolutely right emie emie

Spoken Language:
Considering that we (TZ) are in a global economy and almost none of our competitors and/or partners from other countries operate at a professional level in Swahili, it is incumbent upon us to learn and be fluent in English. If we don't do this we will be at a disadvantage.

I have observed top TZ officials, at international congregations, unable to articulate what they want to convey to colleagues in English. For a former British Protectorate, this is a problem.

When investors set shops in TZ they seek to hire locals with not only a good command of the Swahili language, but also fluency in another international language (be it English, French, Mandarin, you name it). So, I agree with you that our school graduates need to be well versed in English.

Consequently, TZ education system needs to acknowledge this reality. They should come up with strategies of making sure that when our students graduate from schools (O-level, A-level, or Tertiary colleges) that they are able to communicate coherently/fluently in English (written and spoken). I believe we can achieve this stage without forcing all school to use English-medium-only in their instructions.

Swahili: Medium of Instruction in Tanzanian Schools?
Tanzania is blessed to have Swahili as a lingua franca that is not tied to any of the many tribal languages in the country. Swahili has been the main engine in the unification of our country.

Within our region, Swahili is spoken (with varying dialects) in many neighboring countries (e.g., Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, DRC, Malawi, Zambia, Oman, Somalia, etc.). Swahili has also gained popularity in many countries in Europe, Asia, and the Americas. It will be a pity if the country (Tanzania) known as the cradle of the Swahili language folds and abandons it. Indeed, it is our duty to put this beautiful language on a pedestal and flaunt it worldwide. How best to do so than to declare it our main language of instruction in all our schools?

My Two Cents:
I support the government's policy but with a caveat.

Rigorous and mandatory immersion in English Language is indispensable.

How the government does it is their job. That is why we pay them the BIG BUCKS.

 

[Muria]

IMHO, I think a solution to this would be to have a merger of the two languages. Something like Social/Artsy subjects (Geography, History, Social Studies, Government, Music etc) be taught in swahili and the sciences (Math, English, Science, Biology...) be taught in english.
This would have the effect of maintaining nationalist values (in swahili) and preserveing the language while at the same time keeping the citizenry competitive on a global scale. I totally agree with emie emie that english is extremely well resuorced not only in terms of content and systems but also in its range of application. An example being in the IT/Technology field which is expected to be the future of the new world but is almost fully based in english.

However, strong research should also guide whichever course the country's education policy takes which sadly seems not to have been the case.

 

[Kifyatu]

IMHO, I think a solution to this would be to have a merger of the two languages. Something like Social/Artsy subjects (Geography, History, Social Studies, Government, Music etc) be taught in swahili and the sciences (Math, English, Science, Biology...) be taught in english.
This would have the effect of maintaining nationalist values (in swahili) and preserveing the language while at the same time keeping the citizenry competitive on a global scale. I totally agree with emie emie that english is extremely well resuorced not only in terms of content and systems but also in its range of application. An example being in the IT/Technology field which is expected to be the future of the new world but is almost fully based in english.

However, strong research should also guide whichever course the country's education policy takes which sadly seems not to have been the case.

Do you think the Chinese, Japanese, Russians, Norwegians, etc., teach science/math in English? Remember, Chinese & Japanese are top notch in IT/Technology. In fact they are better than the British - the owners of the English language.

How will Swahili become "well resourced" in science and math if we never use it to teach these subjects?

 

[Muria]

Do you think the Chinese, Japanese, Russians, Norwegians, etc., teach science/math in English? Remember, Chinese & Japanese are top notch in IT/Technology. In fact they are better than the British - the owners of the English language.

How will Swahili become "well resourced" in science and math if we never use it to teach these subjects?

They dont. But their languages are centuries old therefore offering greater inflection than swahili. We could always try and re-create what they've done at great cost to the populace or we could learn and not re-invent the wheel but build on it. 90% of Norwegians for example also speak perfect English. Besides, most of the countries you mentioned have highly developed education systems as compared to Tanzanias.
Swahili won't be well sourced by teaching science and math in it. Most languages achieved this by political might (Roman Empire - Latin, British Empire/America - English, Spanish Empire - Spanish...)

Lastly, research has also thrown up this... Countries with Better English Have Better Economies

 

[Kifyatu]

They dont. But their languages are centuries old therefore offering greater inflection than swahili. We could always try and re-create what they've done at great cost to the populace or we could learn and not re-invent the wheel but build on it. 90% of Norwegians for example also speak perfect English. Besides, most of the countries you mentioned have highly developed
Swahili won't be well sourced by teaching science and math in it. Most languages achieved this by political might (Roman Empire - Latin, British Empire/America - English, Spanish Empire - Spanish...)

Lastly, research has also thrown up this... Countries with Better English Have Better Economies

I don't dispute the importance of English in world economy. However, this should not come at the expense of Swahili. The Chinese/Japanese did not have the IT/Tech language until very recently when these technologies developed.

There is no excuse. Just lack of will and maybe a little bit of cold feet. I say, let us plunge into everything in Swahili while stressing their equivalence in English. We can be fluent in Math/Science/Tech in both languages - why not?

 

[descarte]

I think you all dodged the really problem as the nation we must face it.
Education policy must focus to impart the beneficiaries of that policy a critical mind and good skills in solving the problems of our society.
Whether someone studies in English or Swahili that's not the issue as longer as someone is able to get solutions of the problems we are experiencing right now.
So, to pay much attention on which language should be used is equally to misunderstand the gist of learning. This doesn't mean that language isn't important rather language is mere an instrument where people can excel their skills for the benefit our society.
The primordial goal of any education must aim at training critical thinkers and not people who have good command of any language.

 

[Kifyatu]

I think you all dodged the really problem as the nation we must face it.
Education policy must focus to impart the beneficiaries of that policy a critical mind and good skills in solving the problems of our society.
Whether someone studies in English or Swahili that's not the issue as longer as someone is able to get solutions of the problems we are experiencing right now.
So, to pay much attention on which language should be used is equally to misunderstanding the gist of learning. This doesn't mean that language isn't important rather language is mere an instrument where people can excel their skills for the benefit our society.
The primordial goal of any education must aimining at training critical thinkers and not people who have good command of any language.

So, in your opinion, what concrete policies (I mean, give specific examples) should be followed in Tanzania to develop these critical thinkers?

I am guilty of stressing the importance of English for our people because I have seen (first hand) highly educated graduates being out-competed by mediocre candidates from neighboring countries simply because they are fluent in English. The Nyang'aus are eating our lunch and we can do nothing about it.

Now, you can be a very well trained "critical thinker" but if you can only articulate your "critical thoughts" in Swahili and never in English, it will be a long day in the streets of DSM before you can land yourself a gig that will feed your family.

Communication skills are crucial for success whether you are a critical thinker or not. Let's not skirt the issue here. Tanzanians need to learn to read, write, and speak proper English (and Swahili) in today's competitive economy regardless of their final station (driver/messenger or company CEO) in life.

Training people in critical thinking is just as important as training them in entrepreneurial skills. These skills however, are at par with communication skills and languages are at their center.

NO, my compatriot, we didn't "dodge the problem" . We rather faced the problem head-on. I always get nervous when a Tanzanian top official is about to address a meeting in English. The majority of them are just pathetic - and these are the highly educated ones.

Please descarte let's face it. We have a problem here, and it is not "critical thinking".

 

[descarte]

So, in your opinion, what concrete policies (I mean, give specific examples) should be followed in Tanzania to develop these critical thinkers?

I am guilty of stressing the importance of English for our people because I have seen (first hand) highly educated graduates being out-competed by mediocre candidates from neighboring countries simply because they are fluent in English. The Nyang'aus are eating our lunch and we can do nothing about it.

Now, you can be a very well trained "critical thinker" but if you can only articulate your "critical thoughts" in Swahili and never in English, it will be a long day in the streets of DSM before you can land yourself a gig that will feed your family.

Communication skills are crucial for success whether you are a critical thinker or not. Let's not skirt the issue here. Tanzanians need to learn to read, write, and speak proper English (and Swahili) in today's competitive economy regardless of their final station (driver/messenger or company CEO) in life.

Training people in critical thinking is just as important as training them in entrepreneurial skills. These skills however, are at par with communication skills and languages are at their center.

NO, my compatriot, we didn't "dodge the problem" . We rather faced the problem head-on. I always get nervous when a Tanzanian top official is about to address a meeting in English. The majority of them are just pathetic - and these are the highly educated ones.

Please descarte let's face it. We have a problem here, and it is not "critical thinking".

I may sound abstract but the core issue which we must address my friend is whether the education people persue really help them to get ahead with life. In other words, does it assist them in confronting day to day problems.
If we wanna be true to our education policy we should ask ourselves why are people learning, why education? If we grapple with the question then the issue of language becomes a secondary one and not primary as majority of people apparently seem to suggest.
Training critical thinkers who can master their surroundings for the betterment of all community must the goal of any education policy.
Language is important I agree but it is not the basic issue. In fact, to try to talk about language as the fundamental problem facing our education policy is to pretend that our education policy provides skills to the students in mastering their environment.
However much one might have good communication skills or perfect grammar skill in swahili or english if such person cannot solve problems of his society then he or she is good just like any person who has never gone to school.

In fact, we don't judge someone's intelligence based on his communication skills or his mastering of English or Kiswahili grammar rather on how he solves problems and provide solutions.
I am skeptical whether someone can be employed in a certain job just on the credential of his ability to speak a good English or Swahili, if it was true then all people in Uk are well educated because they can speak a better English than majority of people.
My skepticism is not aiming at downgrading the vitality of language in learning process rather to say the real issue our education policy must focus on is to produce critical thinkers.

 

[Kifyatu]

I may sound abstract but the core issue which we must address my friend is whether the education people persue really help them to get ahead with life. In other words, does it assist them in confronting day to day problems.
If we wanna be true to our education policy we should ask ourselves why are people learning, why education? If we grapple with the question then the issue of language becomes a secondary one and not primary as majority of people apparently seem to suggest.
Training critical thinkers who can master their surroundings fo the betterment of all community must the goal of any education policy.

If you read the very first paragraph of emie emie posting it clearly sets a stage for this discussion. Here is what was stated:

...I wish to contribute my two cents to the debate that has been triggered by the recent decision of our Government to make far reaching changes in the education policy in our country. This change has led to the replacement of English as a medium of instruction in primary and secondary schools with our very own Kiswahili....

It states that, ...among the "far reaching changes" the government wishes to make to our education policy is the change in the language of instruction from English to Swahili. I paraphrase.

Your point is well taken but the government is working on all facets of the education policy (language being one of them). This thread deals with the language issue. This is why I disagreed with your statement that discussants in this thread are "dodging the problem". To the contrary, we are addressing the very specific issue raised here.

Now, there is nothing wrong in dissecting each and every aspect of the proposed education policy and your argument will be well placed. You can do it here or you may want to start another thread (tag me please if you do).

Language is important I agree but it is not the basic issue. In fact, to try to talk about language as the fundamental problem facing our education policy is to pretend that our education policy provides skills to the students in mastering their environment.
However much one might have good communication skills or perfect grammar skill in swahili or english if such person cannot solve problems of his society then he or she is uneducated just like any person who has never gone to school.

You are preaching to the choir my friend. There is more to the education policy than the language of instruction. However, this thread specifically raised the language question. I agree with your observations BUT your criticism to the discussants in this thread is misguided.

In fact, we don't judge someone's intelligence based on his communication skis or his mastering of English grammar rather on how he solves problems and provide solutions.
I am skeptical whether someone can employed in a certain job just on the credential of his ability to speak a good english, if it was true then all people in Uk are well educated because they can speak a better english than majority of people.
My skepticism is not aiming at downgrading the vitality of language in learning process rather to say the real issue our education policy must focus on is to produce critical thinkers.

The pertinent issue in this thread is LANGUAGE. Please bring these other issues constituting the proposed education policy here or elsewhere for discussion.

For instance, you always hear leaders telling unemployed graduates to employ themselves (e.g., start a business). How do they start a business without having the rudimentary business skills given to them at school. This could be a topic of discussion (education for self reliance) but it will be misplaced here since the topic focuses on language.