World's Education Journal by CISC

From colonial medium to local agency: Historical insights for Malawi’s K-12 language of instruction policy

Livinia Kaunda

DOI: https://doi.org/10.24926/wejc.v1i1.7079

Keywords: English, Marginalized, language of instruction, disenfranchised, Chichewa, Malawi

Abstract

This paper interrogates and analyzes English-based instruction in public schools, especially lower elementary classes in Malawi—a former British colony—as a demonstration of imperialism and epistemecide. Using a review of literature, the author argues that this English-based instruction policy, even in lower elementary classes—that is, grades 1 to 4—is counterproductive to the educational outcomes for students since English is a minority language in the country. Framed within historical accounts of educational resistance from marginalized and disenfranchised groups, the paper draws insights from such groups to argue that code-switching from English to Chichewa pedagogy enacted by Malawian teachers is a form of epistemological liberation that warrants endorsement. Ultimately, the author proposes a policy modification that sees lower elementary classes being taught using Indigenous languages or household languages and English being demoted to a regular subject or course.

Pepalali likufufuza ndikusanthula maphunziro omwe amachitika pogwiritsa ntchito Chingelezi m'masukulu a boma, makamaka m'makalasi oyambilira a pulayimale ku Malawi—dziko lomwe kale linali pansi pa ulamuliro wa atsamunda la Britain—ngati umboni wa utsogoleri wa chitsamunda komanso kuchepsa kwa nzeru zachikhalidwe. Pogwiritsa ntchito kafukufuku wa mabuku olemba kale, wolemba pepalali akutsutsa kuti ndondomeko iyi yophunzitsa m’Chingelezi ngakhale m’makalasi oyambilira—kuyambira sitandade 1 mpaka 4—imakhala yotsutsana ndi zotsatira zomwe zikuyembekezeka m’maphunziro, chifukwa Chingelezi ndi chilankhulo cha ochepa kwambiri m’dziko muno. Pepalali likutenga nzeru kuchokera ku mbiri zakale zomwe zidaonetsa kuti ndi kotheka kusintha njira yakaphunzitsidwe ndi kupeza njira yoti ana a sukulu azithandizikira. Pomaliza, wolemba akupempha kuti ndondomeko yophunzitsira ana m’ma kalasi a sitandade 1 mpaka 4 isinthe. Ana aziphunzitsidwa mu zilankhulo zakwawo, kapena zilankhulo zomwe zimagwiritsidwa ntchito m’mabanja mwakwawo, ndipo Chingelezi chikhale chabe ngati imodzi mwa ma kalasi omwe ana amaphunzira.