The Government of Kenya and the Government of South Africa have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) that will provide a foundation for the introduction of the teaching of Kiswahili in South African Educational system.
Cabinet Secretary for Education, Prof. George Magoha signed the agreement on behalf of Kenya Government while South Africa Minister Basic Education Angelina Matsie Motshekga signed on behalf of the government of South Africa.
The signing took, which took place in Jogoo House, was also witnessed by the Principal Secretary for Early Learning and Basic Education, Dr. Belio Kipsang.
The agreement will also provide the basis for Kenya to share technical capabilities in Education, apart from extending Kiswahili language into the South African lingua franca.
Prof. Magoha said the MoU will strengthen the cordial relations between Kenya and South Africa, saying Kiswahili aspect of the agreement will forge stronger links between the peoples of the two countries.
He said many Kenyans were training in Medicine and other disciplines in South African Universities, saying the mutual exchange of intellectual capital was beneficial to the two counties.
Motshekga said that about 40 per cent of learners in South African learners speak Kiswahili.
She noted that the MoU will make it possible for learners in South African to take up Kiswahili as an optional language besides French and Portuguese languages.
Another area of mutual cooperation shall be the teaching and learning through Digital curriculum delivery.
Motshekga lauded Kenya the Digital Learning Programme, saying it had the potential to address gaps in skills between learners apart from addressing the problem of teacher shortage.
