This archive report was first published on 14 January 2020.
On January 14, 2020, the South African Department of Basic Education (DBE) launched a pioneering initiative by introducing Kiswahili as an optional language in the curriculum of 90 pilot schools.
This move makes Kiswahili the first African language outside South Africa to be included in the official curriculum, joining other optional languages such as French, German, and Mandarin.
As an official language of the African Union, Kiswahili is predominantly spoken across East Africa and parts of Central Africa, with approximately 100 to 200 million speakers across East and Southern Africa.
The introduction of Kiswahili in South African schools is expected to create job opportunities for Kiswahili teachers from East Africa, particularly from Kenya and Tanzania.
The South African Development Community plans to adopt Kiswahili in its 16 member states to promote a unified economy and facilitate cross-border trade.
