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Periodical article | Leiden University catalogue | WorldCat |
Title: | The Role of the Primary Language in the Bilingual-Bicultural Education in Zimbabwe |
Authors: | Peresuh, Munhuweyi Masuku, Jesta |
Year: | 2002 |
Periodical: | Zambezia (ISSN 0379-0622) |
Volume: | 29 |
Issue: | 1 |
Pages: | 27-37 |
Language: | English |
Notes: | biblio. refs. |
Geographic terms: | Zimbabwe Southern Africa |
Subjects: | languages of instruction language policy mother tongues Peoples of Africa (Ethnic Groups) Education and Oral Traditions Ethnic and Race Relations education Language teaching official languages Bilingualism educational systems |
External link: | https://d.lib.msu.edu/juz/748/OBJ/download |
Abstract: | Zimbabwe has two major sociolinguistic groups, namely, Shona and Ndebele speakers, constituting more than 70 percent and more than 15 percent of the population, respectively. There are also several indigenous minority linguistic groups, which constitute slightly over 12 percent of the population. English, the home language of less than 1 percent of the population, however, is the official medium of instruction in the country's educational system from the fourth year of elementary school to university. Indigenous languages have been marginalized as a matter of policy in preference to English. English is also the medium of communication in all official communications in the country. This paper argues that there is confusion between the learning of English for use as a national language of communication, and its role as an effective medium of instruction for all other school subjects and at all levels of education. It stresses the importance of pupils' home languages as medium of instruction, especially in primary school. Zimbabwe should reconsider its present strategies in this respect. Bibliogr., notes, sum. [ASC Leiden abstract] |