The United Nations Decade of Education for Sustainable Development (2005-2014): Language Policies in Africa Revisited
Journal Title: Scholars Journal of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences - Year 2014, Vol 2, Issue 6
Abstract
The Decade of Education for Sustainable Development (DESD 2005-2014) aims to achieve an improvement in the quality of life particularly for the most deprived and marginalised. This naturally calls for re-orientation of educational programmes and revisiting systems of education across the globe with a view to increase the development of knowledge, skills and values related to sustainability. Education for sustainable development is now everyone’s business hence the need for voices from Africa to be heard. We are now ten years into the Decade of Education for Sustainable Development but very few African countries have managed to integrate ESD into their educational curricula. In this article we argue for the implementation of ESD through the official use of indigenous African languages as languages of instruction at all levels of the education system in Africa and also attempt to explore in the process, possibilities of establishing a language policy framework for the African continent. The article strongly advocates for a new language policy model for the continent of Africa that recognises linguistic and cultural diversity. In conclusion, the article urges African policy makers to embark on a linguistic revolution with a goal to change the prevailing language policies that favour minority dominant groups at the expense of the vast majority of the African population. Keywords: education, sustainable development, indigenous language, official language, language policy, language of instruction
Authors and Affiliations
Magwa Wiseman
Keywords
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