EDUCATION Cabinet Secretary Jacob Kaimenyi has said there is a need for every child to be taught in a language they understand better, which is their mother tongue.
Kaimenyi said when a child first comes to school vernacular is the only language they understand.
He said children get disoriented if taught in English and therefore no learning takes place.
“The children are unable to adjust to the school environment or participate in the lessons and they end up disliking school,” Kaimenyi said.
He was speaking during the celebration of the International Mother Language Day at the University of Nairobi on Wednesday.
Kaimenyi said when the leaner has a strong foundation in the first language, teaching mother language enables them learn faster.
He said the government is committed to promoting and protecting diversity and use of indigenous languages.
“The constitution states that Kiswahili be used alongside English, the Kenyan Sign Language, Braille and other communication methods for people living with disabilities,” Kaimenyi said.
He said the education policy states that the language of instruction in early childhood, up to the first three years in school, is the language of catchment area of the school.
Kaimenyi urged learning institutions dealing with languages to educate the society on benefits of developing mother languages.
Linguistics and Languages department chairman Prof Kithaka wa Mberia said Africa is faced with language endangerment.