In a recent development, several Namibian schools have expressed a growing interest in teaching Mandarin as part of their curriculum. This comes after the Ministry of Education, Arts and Culture shelved its plans to introduce Kiswahili as a subject in schools, a proposal initially set for implementation in 2021 but delayed amid opposition from political parties and schools.
Patrick Simalumba, the director of the National Institute for Educational Development (NIED), confirmed that Mandarin has already been part of the school curriculum in some institutions for over a decade. “We have had requests for Mandarin, which has already been running in schools for the past 10 years,” he told The Namibian. He added that the demand for Mandarin aligns with a broader trend of schools seeking to introduce a variety of foreign languages, including European and Asian languages.
The decision to halt the introduction of Kiswahili was largely influenced by the rising demand for the inclusion of local Namibian languages in the curriculum. Simalumba noted that the push for local language instruction stems from a desire to preserve indigenous cultures and traditions in the face of globalization.
Political leaders and education experts have voiced their concerns about the impact of favoring foreign languages over local dialects. “It’s worrisome that foreign languages are being prioritized, while local languages are being overlooked,” said education advocate Nangolo. He emphasized that Namibian youth are increasingly disconnected from their cultural roots as they lose fluency in local languages.
Union leader Mahongora Kavihuha echoed similar concerns, pointing out the issue of resource allocation. “From a cultural perspective, this marginalization of local languages is troubling. The excuse of resource limitations shouldn’t come at the cost of our heritage,” he said.
Despite the pushback, an assessment conducted by the education ministry found that a sufficient number of schools and students were interested in learning Mandarin, making its continued teaching viable. However, many believe that balancing local and foreign language instruction is essential for both cultural preservation and global competitiveness.
The debate over language instruction in Namibian schools highlights the ongoing tension between modernization and cultural heritage, with education leaders tasked with finding a sustainable way forward.