Adam Hartman
2 May 2008
Windhoek — THE Ministry of Education has decided to stop teaching the Oshikwanyama language in Erongo schools from next semester, with only Oshindonga offered as the alternative - much to the dismay of teachers and parents.
Swakopmund's Vrede Rede Primary School was the only school in the region that introduced Oshikwanyama as an indigenous language about five years ago - with much success.
There was even mention that the language could be introduced on secondary level.
An informal survey showed that 147 of the 580 pupils at Vrede Rede had Oshikwanyama as first language or home language, compared to 77 Oshindonga learners.
In a letter of concern to the regional education office in Swakopmund, parents said they were informed at the beginning of last year - during the registration of pupils - that Oshikwanyama would continue to be taught at the school.
"We are now perplexed by the intended reversal of what has been successfully implemented at the school over the last five years or so," the letter read.
Parents were also under the impression that the language could be introduced at secondary level, just to learn that it was going to be removed altogether.
According to teachers at the school, a lot of money was spent to advance the subject through material and training.
"We are extremely surprised, and very concerned, that the teaching of Oshikwanyama at our school has to cease and instead be replaced by Oshindonga," they said in a letter of grievance, also now in the possession of the education office.
A source told The Namibian that the Ministry's motive was that Oshikwanyama was too costly to sustain and develop in the region; and that the language was very similar to Oshindonga.
However, there are many differences between the two Oshiwambo dialects, and Oshikwanyama is widely used among Oshiwambo-speaking people.
The teachers and parents requested the Ministry to first conduct a survey at each school in the region, especially at the coast, on the number of pupils interested in learning Oshikwanyama.
They also asked that a decision be withheld until consultations were held with everyone involved, including pupils, parents, school boards and teachers.
In a published reply to the parents (in The Namibian's SMS column), the Ministry of Education said: "The decision was taken because it would be difficult, or rather impossible, for the Oshikwanyama language learners to proceed to a secondary school in the region, because no secondary school offers the language.
The secondary schools only offer Oshindonga".
Upon enquiry, Clementine Garises, Inspector of Education at the Regional Office in Swakopmund, said the matter would receive attention from the Regional Management Team.
"Until such time, there is not much to say on this issue," she stated.
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