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Periodical article Periodical article Leiden University catalogue Leiden University catalogue WorldCat catalogue WorldCat
Title:A trilingual model as an answer to educational problems? In search for adequate media of instruction for the pupils of Botswana
Authors:Beitz, SteffenISNI
Vossen, RainerISNI
Year:1994
Periodical:Frankfurter afrikanistische Blätter
Issue:6
Pages:1-8
Language:English
Geographic term:Botswana
Subjects:primary education
language policy
Abstract:Following the example of most African States, the government of Botswana has opted for a European language, in this case English, known by about a quarter of the total population, as the official language. Tswana, which is the first or second language of around 90 percent of the population, functions as the national medium of communication. While Tswana has officially been accepted at the primary school level and in everyday life, in formal contexts, such as the judiciary, administration, and business, the mass media and secondary schools, it plays a secondary role after English. Such a so-called exoglossic language policy has the effect of favouring a small elite. Its detrimental effects are exemplified by Botswana's educational system, where English and Tswana are the only languages used at schools, and none of the remaining 20 or so other languages are officially recognized, much to the disadvantage of pupils who speak neither Tswana nor English as a mother tongue. The authors discuss the medium of instruction used in Botswanan schools, the necessity of mother tongue education and the possibility of introducing a trilingual model that takes all local languages into account. Bibliogr., sum.
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