GENERAL NEWS

Local language in school can promote tribalism – Kabwe

16/01/2014

Emily McKeone, a Peace Corps volunteer and University of Nebraska-Lincoln graduate, poses with students of a rural school in the Luapala province of Zambia. McKeone is raising money to build three wells for three local schools in Zambia

Media Network on Child Rights Executive Director, Henry Kabwe says the introduction of local language as a teaching language in primary schools has the potential to bring about tribalism if necessary measures are not put in place.

Mr. Kabwe told Q fm in an interview that the system will hinder some teachers from working in certain areas where they are not conversant with the local language.

Mr. Kabwe says the ministry of education should put mechanisms in place to ensure that the new policy is done in a way that will not negatively affect either teachers or pupils.

He however, notes that the system is good for vulnerable children who are not able to express themselves in English, stating that some children go to school and get focused on learning how to use English as opposed to acquiring knowledge.

Mr. Kabwe says the use of a familiar local language will make it easy for a child to go to school and be confident enough to learn.

He has urged parents to support the ministry of education%u2019s initiative to introduce local languages in primary schools as a teaching language as they are trying to preserve the language and culture of the country.

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