Lessons from Africa prove the incredible value of mother tongue learning
Children at school in Mali, which is among the countries that’s prioritised mother tongue education. United Nations Photo/Flickr, CC BY-NC-ND
By Associate Professor in Applied Linguistics, University of South Australia. This article was originally published on The Conversation. Read the original article. The views expressed in this commentary are solely those of the writer. AfricaOracle is showcasing the work of The Conversation, a collaboration between journalists and academics to provide news analysis and commentary. The content is produced solely by The Conversation."
Many African countries, particularlyformer French and Portuguese colonies, have prioritised international over local languages, even in the early primary school years. Most countries in “Anglophone” Africa, meanwhile, have attempted some form of early literacy development in the local language before children switch to English medium education. Over the years, our understanding of how language and learning are linked has shifted and changed. There is ample evidence about the value of mother-tongue-based multilingual education. So, what’s working in Africa when it comes to language in education – and what isn’t?
What the rest of Africa can learn from The Gambia’s transition to democracy
Children at school in Mali, which is among the countries that’s prioritised mother tongue education. United Nations Photo/Flickr, CC BY-NC-ND
Steinberg Postdoctoral Fellow in International Migration Law, Centre for Human Rights and Legal Pluralism, Faculty of Law, McGill University. This article was originally published on The Conversation. Read the original article. The views expressed in this commentary are solely those of the writer. AfricaOracle is showcasing the work of The Conversation, a collaboration between journalists and academics to provide news analysis and commentary. The content is produced solely by The Conversation."
The Gambia has become an important democratisation success story. Jammeh eventually stepped down, thanks to pressure from Ecowas. He went without a single shot being fired. Barrow, his democratically elected successor, has committed himself to transforming the country into a thriving democracy after two decades of dictatorship.
So what lessons can be learnt from the Gambia which other parts of Africa can emulate? This article highlights three mutually reinforcing lessons: inward evolution, strong coalitions and sub-regional pressure.
President Kagame received by Pope Francis
Vatican City, 20 March 2017--President Kagame today held talks with the Holy Father, Pope Francis, at the Apostolic Palace in Vatican City.