Should Schools Teach in Your Mother Tongue? Kenya's Language Dilemma Explained

The facts

• 1Kenya has over 60 local languages, yet English — introduced during British colonial rule — remains the official language of education and most formal workplaces in the country.
• 2Many Kenyan students say they understand difficult subjects like mathematics and science much more easily when taught in their mother tongue, because new concepts build on words they already know deeply.
• 3A landmark 2016 UNESCO report found that children learn to read and think critically up to 30% faster when their first language is used in early schooling.
• 4The tradeoff is real: students who study mainly in local languages may struggle with English-language university entrance exams or jobs that require written English, limiting their options later.
• 5India faces a very similar challenge — the National Education Policy 2020 recommends teaching children in their mother tongue up to at least Class 5, while English remains dominant in higher education and corporate hiring.