Mother Tongue-based Literacy Programmes: Case Studies of Good ...

The phenomenon imbedded in the numbers above will likely have a negative impact on the Kamprimary school learners affected by their parents’ absence. Often their continued residence in the villageis being put under enormous stress. Certainly, unless the Kam learners are able to stay in the programmefor its duration, they are not likely to realize the anticipated potential socio-economic benefits of theprogramme.Considering the economics of education, the impact of strong bilingual education programmes will mostoften be noted in young people who successfully complete secondary school and gain employment inthe larger society. That, of course, is also something that only future research will determine in respectof the Kam/ Mandarin Bilingual Education Pilot Project.Cost Effectiveness of the ProjectAs above, this feature is also difficult to assess at this point in time. If the percentage of Kam studentsentering into and completing the secondary level increases significantly, then the programme will bejudged as very cost effective. If no change in those percentages can be determined, then the programmewill not have achieved one of its primary goals. It should be noted, however, that there will very likely beother benefits that redeem the costs of a bilingual approach to primary education, including increasedlevels of academic achievement in Mandarin, as well as maintenance of the ethnic language andincreased self-esteem and confidence among the Kam students.Sustainability of the ProjectKam Pilot Project organizers have tried to prepare for ongoing and sustainable mother tongue-basedbilingual education, especially in the two key areas that have proven to be obstacles in other nationalities:teacher training and materials production. However, the key to sustainability and expansion of bilingualeducation in the Kam area appears to be the willingness of Rongjiang County education officials tosupport the expansion of the programme. In short, unless the value and practicality of Kam/ Mandarinbilingual education is recognized and supported at that level of government, there is little chance of theprogramme being sustained. Nor is the Kam community likely to find the financial resources to sustainan innovative education programme on its own, no matter how successful the programme may be.The project has been particularly successful in terms of training teachers, developing curriculum andinstructional methods, and in enabling Kam children to do well in school. Regardless, if the countyand provincial governments do not approve and support the programme there will be no chance ofexpansion to other Kam communities. Without expansion to other Kam villages, there is little likelihoodof sustaining the programme.The extra costs in implementing the Kam/ Mandarin bilingual education programme are relatively low.However, the programme organizers do not have funds to implement and sustain a growing bilingualeducation programme that will provide the same benefits to Kam children elsewhere that it has providedto Kam children in Zaidang.Community Participation and OwnershipGenerally speaking, the Zaidang community has supported the Kam/Mandarin Bilingual Education PilotProject. Community members originally participated in and supported the programme, not because[ 89 ]