The Ministry of Education together with Teachers Service Commission (TSC) will pilot the teaching of indigenous languages and foreign languages in some selected primary schools next term when schools reopen.
The foreign languages to be piloted are French and German. The Principal Secretary for Education Mr Julius Jwan has released a list of schools where the piloting will be carried out as well as the guidelines for implementing the indigenous and foreign languages in schools.
According to the circular dated 8th July 2021, Juan said there will be two lessons in a week for any foreign or indigenous language as per the curriculum designs and each lesson shall be 35 minutes.
Identification, induction and orientation of the selected teachers to participate in the pilot program has been carried out by the Teachers Service Commission in collaboration with the Ministry of Education.
“Principals of secondary schools whose teachers have been identified to participate in the pilot of foreign languages teaching in primary schools, will receive specific guidelines on teacher management from the TSC,” said Juan.
Below is the circular sent to head teachers of primary schools;
TO:
ALL REGIONAL DIRECTORS OF EDUCATION
ALL COUNTY DIRECTORS OF EDUCATION
ALL SUB COUNTY DIRECTORS OF EDUCATION
ALL HEAD TEACHERS OF PRIMARY SCHOOLS
RE: COMPETENCY BASED CURRICULUM (CBC) ROLL OUT; IMPLEMENTATION GUIDELINES FOR FOREIGN AND INDIGENOUS LANGUAGES IN UPPER PRIMARY GRADES (4, 5 & 6)
The Ministry of Education rolled out the implementation of the Competency Based Curriculum (CBC) for Early Years Education (EYE), covering Pre-Primary 1 and 2 and Grade 1 to 3 vide circular Ref: MOE/CONF/G5 of 2nd January 2019.
All schools rolled out CBC in Upper Primary in January 2020 in Grade 4. This will be followed by the roll out of Grade 5 in 2021 and Grade 6 in 2022.
The following cluster of optional subjects subjects will be offered for the first time at Grade 4 for selected pilot schools.
French, German and Indigenous languages. Details of selected schools to offer indigenous languages are shown in appendix 1 while details of identified schools to offer foreign languages are shown in appendix 2.
All institutions will use the following Guidelines:
- Time Allocation
a) There will be Two (2) lessons in a week for any of the selected subject from this cluster as per the curriculum designs.
b) Each lesson shall be 35 minutes.
c) Schools that are not participating in the pilot shall utilize the two lessons for Teacher Professional Development activities as per circular letter Ref: MOE.CONF/G11/3/1 dated 7th November, 2019.
2. Selection of a Language
A learner will be expected to select one (1) of the subjects from this cluster.
3. Criteria for Selection of any of the Languages from this cluster
• Foreign languages will be offered by schools that have been identified for piloting in the year 2021 (see list In appendix 1).
• All other schools (both public and private) that are not participating in the pilot may apply for approval to introduce the new subject/learning area as per the directorate of Quality Assurance and Standard Guidelines.
• The Ministry of Education will provide learning materials for foreign and indigenous languages; to support learning.
• A learner may choose any of these Languages if he/she has:
a. Interest in a particular language
b. Basic language skills in the language of choice.
4. Teaching Staff
Identification, induction and orientation of the selected teachers to participate in the pilot program has been carried out by the Teachers Service Commission in collaboration with the Ministry of Education.
The particulars of selected teachers and pilot schools they will be attached is appended (appendix 2).
Principals of secondary schools whose teachers have been identified to participate in the pilot of foreign languages teaching in primary schools, will receive specific guidelines on teacher management from the TSC.
Julius O. Jwan, PhD, MBS
PRINCIPAL SECRETARY
