Bitamazire appeals for Educational assistance
Apr 01, 2007
THE minister of Education and Sports, Geraldine Namirembe Bitamazire, has called for assistance from the United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) in promoting Uganda’s new policy of teaching primary pupils in their native languages.
By Moses Mulondo
THE minister of Education and Sports, Geraldine Namirembe Bitamazire, has called for assistance from the United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) in promoting Uganda’s new policy of teaching primary pupils in their native languages.
The ministry drafted a policy that requires all primary schools to teach pupils in their mother tongues. The policy started with Primary One this year. It will go on until Primary Three, where use of local languages as medium of instruction stops. In Primary Four, pupils use English as medium of instruction.
“One of the cardinal objectives of UNESCO is to preserve and promote culture. Language is the custodian of culture. We, therefore, ask UNESCO to help us in marketing and promoting our idea of education through mother tongue since it coincides with their objectives,†Bitamazire appealed at the launch of the 10 year strategic plan for the Uganda National Commission For UNESCO at Hotel Equatoria in Kampala.
She, however, complained that despite a flood of criticisms about the policy, the concerned organisations like UNESCO have not come up to explain the advantages of education through mother tongue.
“Many people think that turning to education in the mother language is going backward.
“They are ignorant about the benefits. They need to be educated that even in developed countries like Germany, China and Japan, education is conducted in native languages,†Bitamazire explained.
Bitamazire also said she had received a letter from President Yoweri Museveni two days ago directing her ministry to hire experts in developing competent syllabi for all the native languages in Uganda so that they can be effectively taught in schools.
Meanwhile, the minister officially launched a 10-year strategic plan for the Uganda National Commission for UNESCO, which has been developed in collaboration with the Ministry of Education and Sports.
The plan, which will start in June and end in 2016, aims at achieving the UNESCO goal of Education For All, improve science education, vocational, technical education and training, promote training of quality teachers, promote the Uganda initiative on HIV/AIDS and Education (EDUCAIDS) among others.
Bitamazire further called upon UNESCO to help Uganda in implementing the Universal Secondary Education programme which started this year since it also promotes the objective of Education For All. She praised the plan and said it coincides with the priorities for the different departments in the ministry.
“I believe that the plan will help our ministry in promoting quality education that will bring about meaningful development. It will transform Uganda into a learning, cultural and informed nation,†Bitamazire said.
THE minister of Education and Sports, Geraldine Namirembe Bitamazire, has called for assistance from the United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) in promoting Uganda’s new policy of teaching primary pupils in their native languages.
The ministry drafted a policy that requires all primary schools to teach pupils in their mother tongues. The policy started with Primary One this year. It will go on until Primary Three, where use of local languages as medium of instruction stops. In Primary Four, pupils use English as medium of instruction.
“One of the cardinal objectives of UNESCO is to preserve and promote culture. Language is the custodian of culture. We, therefore, ask UNESCO to help us in marketing and promoting our idea of education through mother tongue since it coincides with their objectives,†Bitamazire appealed at the launch of the 10 year strategic plan for the Uganda National Commission For UNESCO at Hotel Equatoria in Kampala.
She, however, complained that despite a flood of criticisms about the policy, the concerned organisations like UNESCO have not come up to explain the advantages of education through mother tongue.
“Many people think that turning to education in the mother language is going backward.
“They are ignorant about the benefits. They need to be educated that even in developed countries like Germany, China and Japan, education is conducted in native languages,†Bitamazire explained.
Bitamazire also said she had received a letter from President Yoweri Museveni two days ago directing her ministry to hire experts in developing competent syllabi for all the native languages in Uganda so that they can be effectively taught in schools.
Meanwhile, the minister officially launched a 10-year strategic plan for the Uganda National Commission for UNESCO, which has been developed in collaboration with the Ministry of Education and Sports.
The plan, which will start in June and end in 2016, aims at achieving the UNESCO goal of Education For All, improve science education, vocational, technical education and training, promote training of quality teachers, promote the Uganda initiative on HIV/AIDS and Education (EDUCAIDS) among others.
Bitamazire further called upon UNESCO to help Uganda in implementing the Universal Secondary Education programme which started this year since it also promotes the objective of Education For All. She praised the plan and said it coincides with the priorities for the different departments in the ministry.
“I believe that the plan will help our ministry in promoting quality education that will bring about meaningful development. It will transform Uganda into a learning, cultural and informed nation,†Bitamazire said.