A researcher at the Centre for Strategic and policy Studies, Professor Samba Buri Mboup is urging learning institutions in South Sudan to teach local languages as subjects in classrooms.
The Professor is the Head of the Department of Languages and Cultures at the Pan African Cultural and Research institute in Senegal.
He says teachers should use their local languages to teach science, mathematics, History and other subjects in the African context.
Professor Mboup says there’s no language which is privileged to impart knowledge of science or any subject to learners.
This comes after a public lecture conducted at the University of Juba about African Cultural Renaissance as a 21st century Historical imperative.
“First make sure that, the different local languages are studied. Second, they should be use to teach the other scientific subjects because no language has privileged for science or knowledge,” Professor Mboup said.
Professor Samba Buri further says it does not mean people are uncivilized when they use local languages to teach science, history or any other discipline in classroom.
He says that civilization started in Africa as witnessed in Ancient Cush, Napata, and Egypt in the Delta.
The Professor is argues that writing emerged from the Ancient African states and that the Eastern and Western world developed their writing system from Africa.
The Vice Chancellor of the University of Juba, Professor John Apuruot Akech for his part affirms the adoption and usage of local languages in imparting ideas and knowledge about cultures to the next generation.
The Professor says it is very important to translate information in international books into native languages.
“Culture is carried in language, and how people behave is attached to language. So, language carries cultures and stories,” Apuruot stated.
Professor Samba Mboup is a founding member of the Thabo Mbeki African Leadership Institute and also an Associate Professor at the Centre for Diplomatic and Strategic Studies in Dakar, Senegal.