Namibia University of Science and Technology

1. ENGLISH LANGUGE IN
NAMIBIA
Fillipus Lineekela
Namibia University of Science and Technology
Bachelor of English

2. 28 August 2017
English language in Namibia
English language is the language whereby Namibian communicates and interacts with each
other. Namibia is the country of multilingual and the Government introduce English language
to be the Namibia’s official language but is the mother tongue of just of few percent of the
population.. Some Namibian tribes use English as a second language.
According to Richard(2012)”at independence, Namibia chose English as its main national
language although it had no history of English as a colonial language and few citizens who
spoke it as their first language. The decision has been well supported and there is an
expectation among Namibian that learning English early is as possible is important because it
will open many doors to the future.”(para.1)
Richard added that “the Government implement the decision through a language policy for
schools that sets down that learners should be taught in their home language policy from
grade 1-3 and English from grade 4 onwards. However, despites high levels of spending on
education, failure rates as a whole remain alarmingly high. For example, only four in ten
(39%) learners starting school in 2009 are expected to reach grade 12.”(para.2)
Teaching of English language in Namibia contributing to the poor results in education. This
is because majority of Namibian teachers are unqualified to teach English. Some learners
found it difficult to understand English because is not their home language. According to
Denverkisting(2009) “more than 70 percent of teachers at in the senior secondary phase
cannot read and write Basic English, while 63 percent in the junior secondary phase are not
sufficiently proficient in English.”(P.1)
English language is not only used for teaching, but it is used in different ways. Namibian use
English to communicate with other people of different tribes. English is used to great people,
to express their views , for translating different in languages in Namibia, to advertise
Namibian businesses and many other functions.
Even though English is the official language in Namibia , majority of Namibian are
struggling to speak, read and understanding English. Namibian need to improve their abilities
to speak and write English by introducing reading programmes at their homes, communities

3. or at schools. Namibian needs to manage or create their time for reading, because if they
don’t create their time for reading , they will never have time for it. Namibian should to build
their libraries at their homes, communities or at schools. Namibian should balance their
reading and respond to their reading both physically and mentally and the important thing is
that they need should know what to read and what not read.
English is the most important and only official language in Namibia. English is only spoken
by few people in Country. Namibia lack qualified teachers to teach English which result in
poor results in education . English is the most difficult language to some Namibian students
who do not taught English at lower grades. Which cause some Namibian to have poor ability
to read and write it. Namibian need to improve their abilities to read, write and speak
English . English their first language and they need to know it very well.

4. References:
Denverkisting.(09 November). The Namibian: A staggering of 98 percent of Namibian
teachers or 22 089 cannot read , write and speak English.P.1
Richard. L. (2012). Should Namibia stop teaching English? Retrieved from
www.osisa.org/education/namibia/should-stop-teaching-english.