Abstract
Abstract The use of African languages as media of instruction in African Schools (especially in higher education) has always been a controversial issue in most countries on the continent. The aim of this paper is to attempt a modest contribution to the on‐going debate by looking at the present language situation in the Tanzanian educational system. Specifically, the paper looks at the tug‐of‐war between English on the one hand, and Kiswahili (the national language) on the other, each trying to assert itself as the medium of instruction in higher education. The paper first describes briefly language use in Tanzania today and the prevailing language attitudes. After this background, language policy in the Tanzanian educational system is looked at in some detail. The arguments of those who favour the use of English as the medium of instruction are analysed within the framework of the prevailing Sociolinguistic environment, and counter‐arguments in favour of Kiswahili are offered. It is argued that the use of...
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