By VIOLET MENGO
GOVERNMENT has appealed to parents and guardians to embrace the use of local languages as a medium of communication for early education in schools because the benefits are enormous for children.
Ministry of Education, Science, Vocational Training and Early Education permanent secretary Patrick Nkanza said in an interview on Friday that the use of local languages has raised debate without people fully appreciating Government’s intentions for children.
“Studies have revealed that children who are taught in a familiar language perform better than those who use a foreign language in their formative age,” Dr Nkanza said.
He said the language of instruction policy has been reviewed in all the necessary documents like the Education Act, National Policy and the Education Curriculum Framework.
Dr Nkanza said the new policy allows the use of familiar languages for instruction as well as languages for teaching initial literacy from pre-school to grade four.
He said English will be introduced as a subject at grade two but will be used as a language of instruction from grade five to tertiary level.
He said it is important for parents and guardians to take the use of local languages seriously.
“The fears are understandable but it is not fair that children are subjected to the use of English even when they play in familiar language. At this formative age, all that happens to a child is develop the brain to grasp things around,” Dr Nkanza said.
He also said Government has developed a National Literacy Strategy to enhance the teaching of initial literacy in Zambian languages by teachers in primary schools.
Dr Nkanza said the strategy has been augmented by the development of instructional materials for teaching initial literacy in seven local languages.
“We have also developed a National Literacy Strategy meant to enhance the teaching of initial literacy in the Zambian languages by teachers in primary schools,” Dr Nkanza said.
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