Livingstonia Synod condemns Chichewa as a compulsory subject in new syllabus
Livingstonia Synod of Church of Central Africa Presbyterian (CCAP) has condemned the introduction of Chichewa as a compulsory subject in the new secondary school curriculum by Ministry of Education Science and Technology.
Speaking in an interview the Synod’s General Secretary, Reverend Levi Nyondo said the development is biased as there are several other languages and cultures in Malawi that deserve promotion as well.
“We have a lot of languages and cultures in Malawi that need to be promoted, so why Chichewa only?” observed Nyondo.
Nyondo, therefore, said the synod being one of the key stakeholders, was supposed to be consulted for its input before implementation.
Ministry of education, Science and Technology publicist, Lindiwe Chide said the ministry conducted consultations with all stakeholders across the country before this was implemented.
“We had regional consultations, and I want to believe that the synod was there as one of the key stakeholders.
I am sure they were part of the process and that they were in agreement with all the decisions made,” said Chide.
Chide said a consensus was reached that Chichewa should be among the core subjects after wide range consultative meetings with stakeholders.
Meanwhile, some students from Luwinga secondary school in Mzuzu, who opted for anonymity, said they are unhappy that Chichewa is among the core subjects in the new curriculum as it is not their choice.
Lindiwe Chide is lying. Information is power. Can she list down all the stakeholders who were involved in the consultation, the likes of T/A Kamenya Gwaza in Dedza District. If all the Synods were involved, how come Livingstonia Synod is making this noise? Was it intentionally sidelined because it speaks for the voiceless northern Malawians?.
The problem is making Chichewa as a core subject for students its not about making it a national language, it is already a national language and during Kamuzu there was a program on MBC “Tiphunzitsane Chichewa” for teaching chichewa grammar. It wasn’t compulsory in schools.
IT IS NOT A NATIONAL LANGUAGE MBUZI IWE!!!
AM ATUMBUKA BY TRIBE WHAT YU ARE SAYING ITS NONSENSE AS WE TALKING RIGHT WE NORTHERNERS AND PPLE FROM CENTRAL REGION WE HAVE UNITED TO FIGHT THIS STUPID GOVT OF MUTHARIKA DONT SAY THAT AGAIN NYONDO
I live in Botswana and it has many tribes and languages. What unites them is Setswana, a national language. For once let’s stop being tribalistic/regionalistic. I am not a Chewa but they are in majority. It makes sense to use their language. Again we are one nation. Why opting for a foreign language and neglect the one from your own country?
People in Botswana are homogeneous. You cannot compare them to those in Malawi. No.
Why should the people be forced to embrace the language of the oppressor? You wont the North to accept your language yet you have it as a policy that they will never rule this country? Leave Northern region alone we are on a project for an independent state and we will surpass your dead Malawi in no time. All hypocrites preaching togetherness can rot in hell. When did we become one? On when it suits your evil egos? We are tired of this failed state stay will your languages, we will determine our own destiny.
What is a nation?
What is a national language?
what is the importance of a national language?
If you cam answer these questions correctly then you can make logical and non prejudicial conclusions. Just one thing: a national language can only be one or more chosen among many, but it has to be there. The national African leaders i n the 1960’s used to choose one that can play a role of uniting people of different languages.
When did we ever become one nation? should we be one when you want to impose your language and then become Northerners when it crosses to presidential elections and quotarised university and secondary school selections? You are very sinful!
IT IS ALSO EASY TO CREATE ONE (TECHNICALLY POSSIBLE) FROM THE MANY ALREADY IN EXISTENCE, THAT IS IF THE WHOLE NATION CAN’;T AGREE ON ONE. IT’S A PITY PEOPLE LOOK AT DOMINANCE AND NOT TECHNICALITY (AND OF CAUSE UNITY). IT’S A PITY MNY OF THE SO CALLED LINGUISTS (ESPECIALLY UNIVERSITY LECTURES) IN MALAWI THRIVE IN DECEIVE MANY THAT SPEAKING MANY LANGUAGES IS A MASTERLY SIGN OF A LINGUIST – I CHOOSE OT DIFFER HERE BECAUSE FOR ME, IT’S ABOUT TECHNICALITY OF THE WORD (THEIR CREATION AND APPLICATION TO COMPLIMENT COMMUNICATION). AM READY TO LECTURE ON THIS SO LONG THE FEES… Read more »
If u hate chichewa, just visit the National statistics website and review all housing and population census that Malawi has ever conducted since independence, u will see that this language is the mostly used one in malawi and chewa tribe is the biggest tribe in malawi spread to every corner of this country. Even Nyondo himself to communicate well with other people he needs to use the same language he is objecting.
… but I disagree making it a compulsory subject it doesn’t make sense. What a gain do we have from that. Meanwhile Chewa is very broad when studying. They want to increase number of poor performances in academic secondary school.
Maybe he prefers Lhomwe or Tumbuka rather than Chichewa which, unlike the other languages, is well understood from Chitipa to Nsanje. Is Nyondo’s rejection of Chichewa without prejudice? Some man of God!!
Choose many languages from each region and let each student pick a language for enrichment. Language should not be a core subject. It should be a required subject to receive a certificate not to be counted towards an academic achievement. Children ought to learn in their mother languages. Cultural celebrations are not conducted in another person’s language. Why? That is for the preservation for the cultural values of Lomhwe, Yao, Ngoni, Nkhonde, Mang’anja, Sena, Tonga, Tumbuka and so many other tribes’ cultures. On the other hand it gives a Chewa born student an easy score on exams. This plus the… Read more »
What Nyondo is dreaming is nonsense. Just do a quick headcount; how many tumbuka speakers are in central and southern Malawi? How many southerners and central region people are in Tumbukaland. Who need who therefore? Rev. Nyondo, if Tumbukas need the South and Centre, then Chichewa must be a national language, mwamva anthu obera mayeso inu? Just because there was no std 8 examination leakage mwalephera mayeso nkumanamizira quota, vomelezani ndiinu ouma mitu.
If you are not happy with chichewa then recall your people who have infested center and south.
what is chichewa and what for?? Are you ok in your head?? Fucken chichewa no sense
They are not “ouma mitu” as explained. Rather they prefer one to choose subjects one can pursue while in secondary school. If you look at statistics since schools were introduced during the period of the early missionaries in northern province, pupils or students excelled in class. By the time people in the centre and south realised how important education is, the northerners were ahead of them. Though some insidious police have been introduced to discourage them, they continue to perform eductionally well.The “cheating” or “stealing exams” smeared against them is merely a statement intended to destroy their grouping. Its a… Read more »
pathetic perceptions. how do u expect an ordinary Malawian to communicate with public service providers who is from a different region? Let’s be honest , we are communicating in a language that is not any of what we call our language here. So who is benefiting? too much beer has made this reverend so dull that he can’t perceive this as simple as it is
Ordinary Malawians in Makanjira in Mangochi communicate in Chiyao language. When they access public institutions such as the DC’s office or health centres or magistrate courts they converse in Chiyao. If one is not able to communicate to them in that language, one gets an interpreter to translate what an ordinary person is explaining into English or Chichewa or Tonga or whatever preferred language one wants. The same happens to an ordinary person in Kameme in Chitipa whose language of communication is Chilambya or Chinkhonde. In first example given, I encountered that situation. Besides, some NGOs have a policy of… Read more »