Tanzania to trains South Sudanese teachers on Kiswahili

JUBA – The government of Tanzania and South Sudan have signed an agreement that provides opportunities for teaching Kiswahili in South Sudan.

Michael Makuei Lueth, South Sudan ‘s minister of information and broadcasting told reporters after weekly cabinet meeting in Juba on Friday that the deal aim to develop Kiswahili curriculum and help in capacity building of South Sudanese’s teachers.

“The agreement was meant for establishment of working relations between South Sudan and Tanzania with aim of developing curriculum and syllabus and training teachers on Kiswahili language,” Makuei told reporters after a cabinet meeting in Juba.

Makuei said teaching Kiswahili will ease communication with East African member states.

“We have become part and parcel of the East African Community and the official working language in East Africa is Kiswahili,” he said.

He said Tanzanian teachers will be flown to Juba to teach Kiswahili in various schools ahead of its adoption as an official language.

“This agreement was meant to develop curriculum on Kiswahili as well as train teachers on Kiswahili and thereafter develop the ability of personnel in capacity building so that Kiswahili becomes part of languages that is taught in the schools in South Sudan,” he said.

In March 2019, South Sudan and Tanzania signed a five-year deal that will see Tanzania sending Kiswahili teachers to Africa’s newest nation.

South Sudan joined the East African Community (EAC) in April 2016.

The EAC has Kiswahili as its official language and member states have adopted Kiswahili as one of the official languages of their countries.