News
Kiswahili to be optional in KCPE
According to a new policy, Kiswahili will no longer be compulsory for Kenya Certificate of Primary Education candidates. Instead, they can opt to be tested in Kenyan Sign Language. PHOTO/ FILE.
Posted Tuesday, January 19 2010 at 20:00
In Summary
- New policy allows the Standard Eight learners to opt for sign language test
Kenya has made a decision that appears to downgrade the importance of Kiswahili at a time when East Africa’s lingua franca is expected to play a bigger role in regional integration.
The subject will no longer be a compulsory paper in the Standard Eight national examinations, according to a new government policy.
Kenya Certificate of Primary Education (KCPE) examination candidates can forgo Kiswahili and instead be tested in Kenyan Sign Language, which will be examined for the first time this year.
An estimated 700,000 pupils are expected to register for the KCPE examinations this year.
Kenya National Examinations Council (Knec) boss Paul Wasanga said no candidate would be allowed to sit both Kiswahili and sign language.
The announcement signals a major policy move since Kiswahili is the national language. It is also the most commonly spoken language in the region.
The proposed draft constitution has recommended that the language become an official language, giving it status similar to that of English.
Kiswahili has been compulsory language in both primary and secondary school examinations.
According to the new circular, candidates will be examined in seven subjects though sitting six papers.
The papers are: English, Kiswahili, Kenyan sign language, Maths, Science and Social Studies. Pupils must choose between Kiswahili and sign language to ensure they are graded on five subjects as required by the syllabus.
Mr Wasanga asked education officials to ensure teachers and pupils are made aware of the new rule.
Rejected contents
News of the circular that was copied to provincial and district education boards came just two weeks after secondary school teachers rejected contents of a related document on new school subjects.
During the Form One selection on January 8, Kenya Secondary School Heads Association chairman Cleophas Tirop called for the withdrawal of two simpler school subjects — alternative B maths and general sciences — to be tested at the Form Four level this year.
The rejection came after Knec announced that each school will have to register all its students for either alternative A or alternative B subjects.
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Submitted by jimk7Posted January 20, 2010 05:01 PM
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Submitted by hamishmusa
First, Kiswahili is a Bantu Language. Second, Kiswahili courses are already taught in around 100 universities in the United States, England, Germany, South Korea and Japan. The ministry of education is surrounded by ‘Cliché peddling hacks!
Posted January 20, 2010 04:00 PM -
Submitted by muriithiwagura
That Kiswahili subject will no longer be a compulsory paper in the Standard Eight national examinations, is the best news for all in the education sector. Teachers and students have had to contend learning and teaching irrevant subjects that have no bearing in functionality.For what purpose is the subject taught and examined? Who really uses pure Kiswahili language in communication other then the coastal people. The language serves us no purpose, nor does is it make part of our culture us we have been led to believe. muriithi wagura- gilgil
Posted January 20, 2010 11:33 AM -
Submitted by AbangChieth
A sad case of misplaced policy once again! A language is the primary ingredient in the making of a nation (ex. Tanzania) and has been the core of nationalism since Roman-ruled Palestine in the days of Jesus. Bangladesh separated from India because of the place of their native Bangala, same agitation is seen in Catalonia and Basque country in Spain. Kiswahili kitukuzwe daima!
Posted January 20, 2010 11:16 AM -
Submitted by sikujamu
Uuuiii! Tunaelekea kaburini poleee poleee. I think these are the times I can say I'm proud to be one of the first 8-4-4 candidates. Parents, be ready to start teaching ur kids Swahili at home on a serious note. At what stage do those who opt to drop Swahili stop learning it. My advice to those who will be going thru this, it is very important in this day and age to know another international language other than English. I also want to add, no one realizes the importance of speaking another language other than English until you leave Kenya.
Posted January 20, 2010 11:03 AM
RSS
Kiswahili here counts as a foreign language. If you took swahili then you do not need to take a foreign language Universities here give you credits for that.It is a big mistake because now students from Kenya will have to take a foreign language class which is extremely hard. They hard to re-think this decision it is very very wrong.