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SOCIOLOLINGUISTIC SURVEYS - Centre for Language Studies

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Secondly, although in Chilomwe speaking areas, the mjority (59.3%) did not speak the<br />

language, the same applied to the majority of the teachers (62.1%). This means that the<br />

majority of the respondents were competent in Chichewa and not Chilomwe. This<br />

implies that even in the so­called Chilomwe speaking areas, Chichewa is the lingua<br />

franca. This explains why a majority of pupils (89.1%) do not have difficulties with<br />

Chichewa. The MOE, there<strong>for</strong>e, should recognise that Chichewa will have to be taught<br />

in these areas since it plays a very important role in these highly bilingual areas.<br />

5.7 RECOMMENDATIONS TO THE MINISTRY OF EDUCATION<br />

i) The results of the survey show clearly that pupils, teachers and parents/guardinas<br />

are in favour of using Chilomwe in the schools. The MOE should there<strong>for</strong>e<br />

proceed with the mother tongue instructiion policy.<br />

ii)<br />

The MOE should develop teacher training programmes to cater <strong>for</strong> the mother<br />

tongue instruction policy given that the current programmes only cater <strong>for</strong> two<br />

languages of instruction, namely, English and Chichewa<br />

iii)<br />

There is also an urgent need <strong>for</strong> the MIE and its proffessional partners to develop<br />

teaching and learning materials in Chilomwe since these are non­existent. The<br />

required books include primers, teachers guides, elementary grammars and<br />

dictionaries.<br />

iv)<br />

The Chimihavani dialect was identified by the majority of the teachers. Since the<br />

majority of respondents did not know anything about varieties, the teachers choice<br />

should be used <strong>for</strong> teaching if and when the mother tongue policy is implemented.<br />

v) The role of Chichewa as a national lingua franca should be recognised and<br />

maintaned. The MOE special attention is drawn to the finding that most of the<br />

respondents did in fact speak Chichewa and not Chilomwe.<br />

vi)<br />

In discussing matters of language policy in education, there should be meaningful<br />

co­operation and in<strong>for</strong>mation flow between various partners in the education<br />

sector, e.g. between the MOE, the MIE, the University of Malawi and the donor<br />

agencies. Such co­operation would avoid wasting resources as well as duplicating<br />

ef<strong>for</strong>ts.<br />

88

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