Language Education Policies in Africa

Abstract

This article identifies language education policies in Africa and their relationship to development and post-colonial issues. Major language commissions, declarations, reports, and policies concur that the use of indigenous languages in school, alongside a language of wider communication, facilitates education. Yet, with few exceptions, in African schools, indigenous languages are ignored or removed rapidly from classroom learning. Mother-tongue language policies are seldom implemented. Instead, the colonial habitus continues. Policies see-saw between greater and lesser tolerance of African languages, depending on the political party in power.