This archive report was first published on 6 August 2019.
On August 6, 2019, education experts made a compelling case for using mother tongue in the early years of education.
Professor Nathan Oyori, a professor of African linguistics and Deputy Vice Chancellor at Nairobi University, argued that an early shift to English can lead to a shallow foundation, hindering learning across the curriculum from upper primary onward.
However, Oyori suggested that in cosmopolitan towns like Nairobi, teachers should use Kiswahili as a medium of instruction, rather than the mother tongue.
Research has shown that teaching young learners in their indigenous language, rather than English, can lead to better understanding and academic success, with benefits extending to education, the economy, and society as a whole.
The Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC) recommends strategies and techniques for teaching indigenous languages in teacher training programs and advocates for the inclusion of sign language teachers in each primary school.
