Hostname: page-component-745bb68f8f-f46jp Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2025-02-05T16:46:50.619Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Publishing in Kiswahili and Indigenous Languages for Enhanced Adult Literacy in Kenya

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  25 April 2022

Nathan Oyori Ogechi
Nathan Oyori Ogechi*
Affiliation:
Institut für Afrikanistik, Universität Hamburg, Rothenbaumchaussee 67/69 Kiswahili & other African Languages, Moi University, P.O. Box 3900, Eldoret, Kenya
Get access

Extract

This paper argues a case for the preparation of reading materials in Kiswahili and other African languages in order to enhance adult education in Kenya. Adult education clientele are defined as those aged over 15 who (a) were either never enrolled in primary schools or dropped out before completing and (b) ‘graduated’ and currently participate in community extension services. Cognisance of mother tongues as the best languages to begin basic literacy is taken. However, since the literacy so acquired should be useful to the individual at both local and national levels, one needs Kiswahili for wider communication. Therefore, reading materials, especially for post literacy and adult literacy teacher training should be in Kiswahili. This will not only guard against relapsing to illiteracy and misinformation but will also alleviate the scarcity of reading materials in the face of hard economic times in Kenya.

Type
Articles
Information
African Research and Documentation , Volume 88 , 2002 , pp. 19 - 34
Copyright
Copyright © International African Institute 2002

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

Footnotes

Text of a paper originally presented at the Kiswahili Colloquium organised by University of Bayreuth, 25-29 May 2001

References

APNET (2000). The Asmara declaration on African languages and literatures, African publishing review, 9, 1–3.Google Scholar
Brock-Utne, Birgit (2000). Whose education for all? The recolonisation of the African mind. London, Falmer Press.Google Scholar
Bunyi, Grace (1999). The impacts of current medium of instruction policies on literacy development in post-colonial Africa: research evidence and proposals for improvement, pp. 429-442 in, Limage, Leslie (ed.) Comparative perspectives on language literacy; selected papers from the Workshop of Language and Literacy Commission of the 10th World Congress of Comparative Education Societies, Cape Town 1998. Dakar: UNESCO-BREDA.Google Scholar
Chakava, Henry (1995). Kenya, in Altbach, Philip G. & Hoshimo, Edith (eds.) International book publishing: an encyclopaedia. New York, GarlandGoogle Scholar
Gedin, Per I. (1992) Cultural gride: the necessity of indigenous publishing, in Altbach, Philip G. (ed.) Publishing and development in the Third World. Munich, Hans Zell Publishers.Google Scholar
Karani, Florida A. (2000). Research priorities in adult and continuing education in Kenya, in Indabawa, Sabo A. et al eds. The state of adult and continuing education in Africa. Windhoek, Department of Adult and Nonformal Education.Google Scholar
Kembo, Jane (2000). Language in education and language learning in Africa, in Vic Webb & Kembo-Sure (eds.) African Voices; An introduction to the languages and linguistics of Africa. Cape Town, Oxford University Press.Google Scholar
Kembo-Sure, (1991). Language functions and language attitudes in Kenya, English world-wide, 12, 245–260.10.1075/eww.12.2.05surCrossRefGoogle Scholar
Kenya Post-Literacy Project. Report of the Learner-Generated Materials Workshop at Korr: Marsabit District, Kenya. 29th October-3rd November 2000. Organised by the Department of Adult Education in collaboration with the Marsabit Development Programme (MDP) and Bible Translation and Literacy.Google Scholar
King'ei, Kitula (1999). The impact of Kenya's language policy on the adult literacy programme, pp. 409-418 in Limage, Leslie (ed.) Comparative perspectives on language literacy; selected papers from the Workshop of Language and Literacy Commission of the 10th World Congress of Comparative Education Societies, Cape Town 1998. Dakar: UNESCO-BREDAGoogle Scholar
Kirui, David K. (1998). Kenya, in Draper, James A., ed. African adult education: chronologies in Commonwealth countries. Cape Town, CACE Publications, University of the Western Cape.Google Scholar
Koech, Davy. (1999). Totally integrated quality education and training (TIQET). Report of the Commission of Inquiry into the Education System of Kenya. Nairobi, Government Printer.Google Scholar
Lakin, Michael. (1998). Note to educators. Newspapers in Adult Education; a Sourcebook. Paris, UNESCO.Google Scholar
Muita, David, N. (1998). Kenya introduces national textbook policy, Bellagio publishing newsletter, Number 23, October.Google Scholar
Mulusa, Tom. (1978). Adult education and Kiswahili, Kenya journal of adult education, 6 (2), 18–22.Google Scholar
Owino, Francis. (1999). Ambivalent adventure: indigenisation of literacy programmes in Africa, pp. 419—127 in Limage, Leslie (ed.) Comparative perspectives on language literacy; selected papers from the Workshop of Language and Literacy Commission of the 10th World Congress of Comparative Education Societies, Cape Town 1998. Dakar: UNESCO-BREDA.Google Scholar
Rubanza, Y. I. (1999). In search of a meaningful language policy in Tanzania. Ibid.Google Scholar
Thompson, Ekundayo J.D. (1999). Kenya Post-Literacy Project, three years on. Nairobi: GTZ/DAE.Google Scholar
Thompson, Ekundayo J.D. (2001) Transforming the adult education agenda through the Kenya Post-Literacy Project. Adult Education and Development, 56, 7–19Google Scholar
UNESCO. (2000). World Education Forum, final report, Dakar, Senegal 26-28 April, 2000. Paris, UNESCOGoogle Scholar
Vawda, Ayesha Y. (1999). Producing educational materials in local languages: costs from Guatemala and Senegal, pp. 556-574 in Limage, Leslie (ed.) Comparative perspectives on language literacy; selected papers from the Workshop of Language and Literacy Commission of the 10th World Congress of Comparative Education Societies, Cape Town 1998. Dakar: UNESCO-BREDAGoogle Scholar
Wagner, Daniel A. (2000). Literacy and adult education executive summary, Adult education and development, 55, 129–139.Google Scholar
Phillipson, Robert & Skutnabb-Kangas, Tove (1995). Language rights in Africa, in: Skutnabb-Kangas, Tove & Phillipson, Robert (eds.) Linguistic human rights; overcoming linguistic discrimination. Berlin: Mouton/de Gruyter.Google Scholar
Pugliese, Cristina. (1994). Kenyan Publishers in Vernacular Languages; Gikuyu, Kikamba and Dholuo, Africa (Rome)Google Scholar
Webb, Vic & Kembo-Sure, , eds. (2000). African voices: an introduction to the languages and linguistics of Africa. Cape Town, Oxford University Press.Google Scholar