Schools are not teaching Ululogooli

pic: Pupils of Igunga during a mock language class session with Lung'afa Igunza

Primary schools that were identified for implementation of Lologooli indigenous language include; Mbihi, Idavaga, Mululu, Itegero, Lotego, Mago, Losengeri, Kigunga, Igunga, Munzatsi, Ihyagalo, Madzuu, Tigoi, Matsigulu, Chavugami, Zimbalo, Vihiga, Chango and Kapsambo. 

Towards the fifth learning year since the ministry of education enrolled Competency Based Curriculum, top on the challenges experienced is the teaching of Lologooli in schools. Which if the community concerned fails to try its best, the Government could be having enough problems with little time for Lologooli. Perhaps for French, Mandarin or Germany - it can ask for donations and books are shipped!

 Igunga and Mululu primaries have never taught as at the writing of this. Zimbalo teaches, twice a week, for grades 1, 2 and 3. The teacher however is limited for she only has three copies of Kusangālle Lologooli editions for every class of about 30 pupils. It forces her to use the board - which often needs illustrations. The lesson sooner ends and a new subject (language) is supposed to be taught. 

Mululu Primary because of the boarding section can be said to be fully cosmopolitan. When a student bearing a Lologooli name is asked where home is they are likely to say a town - Nairobi, Eldoret and forth. To appear straining as some schools are than others, they have a French teacher. And the reception is great!, the deputy head-teacher told me. Parents might complain vehemently if French was replaced with Lologooli. They will disagree that they themselves are not Valogooli, and why teach their children? 

The provision to teach French is in the Curriculum Design. Twice a week the school time-table for upper classes provides for 2 lessons to teach Other Languages. What are other languages? Mululu took French. Igunga's teacher uses the time for storytelling, poems and class puns in Kiswahili or English. 

Zimbalo's teacher wishes for resource books in Lologooli which will help her teach in Lower Classes. There is not even a Teacher's Guide to the book she holds in her hand. She is not sure if the book is even standard - that much consideration was put towards its publication. The Lower School design is that 9 subjects are taught - Maths, English, Kiswahili, Environment, CRE, Hygiene, Literacy, Creative art and Music and Physical Education distibuted in the format 5, 3, 3, 5, 2, 2, 5, 3 and 5 classes per week respectively. The provision for Mother-tongue is not clear. 

I requested for permission to talk to grade 3 pupils of Igunga. I drew two big stick people and two small ones. The big were identified as parents while the small as children. Almost all hands were up when we were describing how one would call another. But the teacher wondered with the children why they could not do the same in Kiswahili! But teacher, why are you teaching from without? 

With empty class walls (charts less) and no books at the school library, bookshops or manuscripts in print, we should not dare raise our voices that our language is not given a priority or schools are cosmopolitan. Our little children are at our mercy and the teacher is ready to cooperate. This, Madam Sarah Muhonja, deputy headteacher of Zimbalo Primary agreed. She grew up away from Evologooli, speaks Gikuyu and does not regret the chance she had to learn Gikuyu. With the broadening world of opportunities, Lologooli is no less French! 

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