Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in
Book cover

Minority Languages and Multilingual Education pp 45–63Cite as

Margins, Diversity and Achievement: System-Wide Data and Implementation of Multilingual Education in Ethiopia

  • Chapter
  • First Online:

Part of the book series: Educational Linguistics ((EDUL,volume 18))

Abstract

Language education policy based on system-wide implementation of multilingual education in Ethiopia has much to offer the international fields of language policy and bi/multilingual education. In this chapter centralised language policy in the capital, Addis Ababa, will be compared with a decentralised approach taken in the most linguistically diverse region, Southern Nations, Nationalities and Peoples’ Region (SNNPR). System-wide assessment demonstrates that student achievement in the more linguistically complex and decentralised setting exceeds that in the centralised and more limited bilingual system of Addis Ababa. Attention will be drawn to the influence of policy on teacher education, learning materials development and student achievement.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution.

Chapter
USD   29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD   84.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Hardcover Book
USD   109.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Learn about institutional subscriptions

Notes

  1. 1.

    This is a conservative figure. Up to 90 % of students could receive home language education for at least for four years, and 75 % could receive MTM to the end of the eighth grade, if regional authorities were prepared to share and use resources developed for languages, curriculum and learning materials across different parts of the country.

  2. 2.

    This conference was attended by the author.

References

  • Bamgbose, A. 2000. Language and exclusion: The consequences of language policies in Africa. Münster/Hamburg/London: Lit Verlag.

    Google Scholar 

  • Benson, C., K. Heugh, B. Bogale, M. A. Gebre Yohannes. 2012. Multilingual education in Ethiopian primary schools. In Multilingual education and sustainable development work. From periphery to center, ed. T. Skutnabb-Kangas and K. Heugh, 32–61. New York/London: Routledge.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bloor, T., and Wondwosen Tamrat. 1996. Issues in Ethiopian language policy and education. Journal of Multilingual and Multicultural Development 17(5): 321–338.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bourdieu, P. 1991. Language and symbolic power. Cambridge: Polity Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Central Statistical Agency of Ethiopia (CSA). 2008. Summary and statistical report of the 2007 population and housing census. Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia. Addis Ababa: UNFPA. http://www.csa.gov.et/pdf/Cen2007_firstdraft.pdf. Accessed 1 May 2012.

  • Cohen, G. 2007. Mother tongue and other tongue in primary education: Can equity be achieved with the use of different languages? In Language and development: Africa and beyond, ed. H. Coleman, 62–75. Addis Ababa: The British Council.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gebre Yohannes, M. A. 2005. Socio-cultural and educational implications of using mother tongues as languages of instruction in Ethiopia. Unpublished Master’s thesis, University of Oslo.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gebre Yohannes, M. A. 2009. Implications of the use of mother tongues versus English as languages of instruction for academic achievement in Ethiopia. In Languages and education in Africa: A comparative and transdisciplinary analysis, ed. B. Brock-Utne and I. Skattum, 189–199. Oxford: Symposium Books.

    Google Scholar 

  • General Education Quality Assurance and Examinations Agency (GEQAEA). 2008. Ethiopian third national learning assessment of grade eight students. USAID/EQUIP II project. Addis Ababa: GEQAEA.

    Google Scholar 

  • Heugh, K. 1995. Disabling and enabling: Implications of language policy trends in South Africa. In Language and social history: Studies in South African sociolinguistic, ed. R. Mesthrie, 329–350. Cape Town: David Philip.

    Google Scholar 

  • Heugh, K., C. Benson, B. Bogale, and M. A. Gebre Yohannes. 2007. Final report: Study on medium of instruction in primary schools in Ethiopia. Research report commissioned by the Ministry of Education, Addis Ababa, Sept–Dec 2006. http://www.hsrc.ac.za/research/output/outputDocuments/4379_Heugh_Studyonmediumofinstruction.pdfAccessed 1 May 2012.

  • Heugh, K., C. Benson, M. A. Gebre Yohannes, and B. Bogale. 2012. Implications for multilingual education: Student achievement in different models of education in Ethiopia. In Multilingual education and sustainable development work. From periphery to center, ed. T. Skutnabb-Kangas and K. Heugh, 239–262. New York /London: Routledge.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hogan-Brun, G. 2010. Editorial: Contextualising language planning from below. Current Issues in Language Planning 11(2): 91–94.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hussein, J. 2010. English supremacy in Ethiopia – Autoethnographic reflections. In Multilingual education and sustainable development work. From periphery to center, ed. T. Skutnabb-Kangas and K. Heugh, 224–238. Hyderabad: Orient Blackswan.

    Google Scholar 

  • Liddicoat, A.J., and R.B. Baldauf Jr. (eds.). 2008. Language planning in local contexts. Clevedon: Multilingual Matters Ltd.

    Google Scholar 

  • Markakis, J. 2003. Ethnic conflict in pre-federal Ethiopia. Paper presented at first national conference on federalism, conflict and peace building, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa.

    Google Scholar 

  • McLaughlin, P., B. Woubishet, T. Fite, and M. Kasa. 2005. Guidelines for English language enhancement in our teacher education institutions. Addis Ababa: MoE-ELIP (English Language Improvement Programme).

    Google Scholar 

  • Ministry of Education (MoE). 1994. Education and training policy. Addis Ababa: St. George Printing Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ministry of Education (MoE). 2002. The education and training policy and its implementation. Addis Ababa: Author.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ministry of Education (MoE)-National Organization for Examinations (NOE). 2004. Ethiopian second national learning assessment of grade 8 students. Addis Ababa: MoE.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ouane, A., and C. Glanz. 2010. Why and how Africa should invest in African languages and multilingual education. An evidence-based and practice-based policy and advocacy brief. Paris: UNESCO. http://www.scribd.com/doc/53342036/Why-and-How-Africa-Should-Invest-in-African-Languages-and-Multilingual-Education-9789282011713. Accessed 1 May 2012.

  • Ouane, A., and C. Glanz (eds.). 2011. Optimising learning, education and publishing in Africa: The language factor. A review and analysis of theory and practice in mother-tongue and bilingual education in sub-Saharan Africa. Hamburg/Tunis Belvédère: UNESCO Institute for Lifelong Learning (UIL) and the Association for the Development of Education in Africa (ADEA)/African Development Bank. http://unesdoc.unesco.org/images/0021/002126/212602e.pdf . Accessed 1 May 2012.

  • PACT Ethiopia. 2008. Education for pastoralists: Flexible approaches, workable models. USAID. http://www.pactworld.org/galleries/ethiopia/Education%20for%20Pastoralists-A4.pdf. Accessed 1 May 2012.

  • Pankhurst, R. 1972. Education in Ethiopia during the Italian fascist occupation (1936–1941). International Journal of African Historical Studies 5(3): 361–396.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Reeves, C., K. Heugh, C. Prinsloo, C. Macdonald, T. Netshitangani, H. Alidou, and G. Diedericks. 2008. Evaluation of literacy teaching in the primary schools of the Limpopo Province. Pretoria: Human Sciences Research Council. http://www.hsrc.ac.za/research/output/outputDocuments/5715_Reeves_Evaluationofliteracy.pdf. Accessed 1 May 2012.

  • Shohamy, E. 2006. Language policy: Hidden agendas and new approaches. Oxford: Routledge.

    Google Scholar 

  • Smith, L. 2008. The politics of contemporary language policy in Ethiopia. Journal of Developing Societies 24(2): 207–243. Retrieved from http://jds.sagepub.com/cgi/reprint/24/2/207.

    Google Scholar 

  • Stroud, C. 2001. African mother-tongue programmes and the politics of language: Linguistic citizenship versus linguistic human rights. Journal of Multilingual and Multicultural Development 22(4): 339–355.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wagaw, T. 1999. Conflict of ethnic identity and the language of education policy in contemporary Ethiopia. Northeast African Studies 6(3): 75–88.

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Research Centre for Languages and Cultures, University of South Australia, Adelaide, SA, Australia

    Kathleen Heugh

Authors
  1. Kathleen Heugh
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Kathleen Heugh .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Dept. of Theory & Hist. of Education, University of the Basque Country UPV/EHU - IKERBASCQUE, Donostia-San Sebastian, Spain

    Durk Gorter

  2. Dept. of Philoogy & Language Teaching, Public University of Navarre Campus de Arrosadia, Irunea-Pamplona, Spain

    Victoria Zenotz

  3. Dept. of Research Methods in Education,, University of the Basque Country UPV/EHU, Donostia-San Sebastian, Spain

    Jasone Cenoz

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2014 Springer Science+Business Media Dordrecht

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Heugh, K. (2014). Margins, Diversity and Achievement: System-Wide Data and Implementation of Multilingual Education in Ethiopia. In: Gorter, D., Zenotz, V., Cenoz, J. (eds) Minority Languages and Multilingual Education. Educational Linguistics, vol 18. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-007-7317-2_4

Download citation

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation