The programme component AfriLa also focuses on the development of new culturally adequate teaching and learning materials for the subject areas Literacy, Mathematics and Environmental Studies in African languages for grades 1 to 3. The objective is to improve literacy and numeracy of learners in their mother tongue but at the same to promote the acquisition of English as a second language before English becomes the medium of instruction from grade 4 onwards as prescribed by the policy guideline on Language Policy for Schools in Namibia.
The departure point for the programme component is to improve the quality of learning. Regional Language Working Groups are developing the teaching and learning materials relating the content directly to the experiences of the learners and their environment as required by the paradigm of learner-centred education.
The development, production and provision of the new teaching and learning materials in six target languages (Rukwangali, Rumanyo, Thimbukushu, Otjiherero, Silozi and Kohoekhoegowab) as well as in Oshindonga and Oshikwanyama for grades 1 and 2 is already completed. The teaching and learning materials for grade 3 will be completed in the course of the school year 2006 and then distributed to schools.
In order to ensure the most effective implementation and utilisation of the new materials, teacher in-service training measures are conducted utilising the decentralised structures of the school cluster system in each respective region.
Within the framework of the programme component Material Production in African Languages it was possible to establish a public-private-partnership with Namibian publishing houses. The collaboration promotes the development of a local publishing industry in African languages and guarantees the sustainable availability of the developed materials. At the same time members of the Regional Language Working Groups are undergoing a capacity building programme which enables them to be authors in the future. The pedagogical, curricular and methodological responsibility stays with the National Institute for Educational Development (NIED), which is also charged with the approval of the new textbooks for schools in Namibia.
Altogether 350.000 textbooks will be printed and distributed to schools which are using African languages for mother tongue instruction. Development and printing costs for these more than 300 publications for grades 1 to 3 amount to approximately NAD 15 million (Euro 1.8 million).
The costs of NAD 9 million (Euro 1 million) for printing the initial print runs are covered through the financial cooperation with the Kreditanstalt fuer Wiederaufbau (KfW). Through this grant it is possible to distribute the textbooks at a ratio of one textbook per learner which means a significant improvement of the learner:textbook ratio for the Lower Primary phase.
In summary one has to point out that the AfriLa component contributes significantly to the development of functional literacy and numeracy which is the foundation for successful life-long learning and the sustainable reduction of poverty in Africa.
last update: September 2006
