Write or skryf but don’t bhala: The invisibility of African languages in formal education

Zubeida Desai, Lizzi O. Milligan

Research output: Contribution to conferencePaper

Abstract

Language remains an invisible factor in current discourses on education, such as SDG4. This usually results in global languages like English playing a dominant role in education. We argue that languages develop through use, and the more we start using local languages the more they will develop, thereby opening doors for learners hitherto excluded from accessing knowledge as they were not proficient in the language of instruction. We need to desist from binary thinking: it is not a case of access to a dominant language OR a local language, but rather to a dominant language AND a local language/s. Languages open doors. The more languages we speak, the richer we are.
Original languageEnglish
Publication statusUnpublished - 2017
EventLanguage and Development Conference - Dakar, Senegal
Duration: 28 Nov 2017 → …

Conference

ConferenceLanguage and Development Conference
Country/TerritorySenegal
CityDakar
Period28/11/17 → …

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