National policy on Kiswahili on cards
THE government plans to introduce a national policy on Kiswahili in
order to facilitate growth of the international language. Minister for
Information, Culture, Arts and Sports, Mr Nape Nnauye said in Dar es
Salaam yesterday that the new national policy will address challenges
facing the growth of Kiswahili language. “Previously, Kiswahili was just
part of the national policy on culture.
The new policy will be separate from the
national policy on culture,” said the Minister while winding up
discussions between the government and Kiswahili and culture key
stakeholders.
The meeting brought together Kiswahili book
authors, artists and government officials from institutions under the
Ministry of Information, Culture, Arts and Sports to discuss the
Kiswahili development. Mr Nnauye noted that the views from the meeting
will help to improve formation of the national policy on Kiswahili.
“The new national policy on Kiswahili will
expand scope of the growth of Kiswahili beyond the country’s borders,”
he observed. Mr Nnauye pointed out major challenges facing the growth of
Kiswahili language as shortage of resources, lack of national policy on
the language and will to promote it.
The Minister hailed President John Magufuli
for the use of Kiswahili language in international functions, pointing
out that the Head of State has tremendously helped to promote the
language.
Book author, Shafi Adam Shafi urged the
reintroduction of Kiswahili in schools of journalism, pointing out that
previously one had to perform well in Kiswahili subject in order to
graduate from schools of journalism. “This will prevent poor use of
Kiswahili in media. Previously, the language was one of course units in
journalism,” said the ‘Vuta N’kuvute’ book author.
The National Council of Culture (BASATA)
Executive Secretary, Geoffrey Mungereza, said there should be
accreditation of Kiswahili teachers to teach in schools to promote good
use of the language.
“We should control ‘Jacks of All Trades’ in
Kiswahili teaching in order to have only competent Kiswahili teachers
in schools for growth of the language,” he said.