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Language education needs for multilingualism in Fiji primary schools

Lookup NU author(s): Dr Nikhat Shameem

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Abstract

This paper looks at current practice in teaching multilingual Indo-Fijian children in eight Fiji primary schools. Indo-Fijians speak Fiji Hindi (FH) as their mother tongue, learn Shudh Hindi (SH) or Urdu, and English for formal and literacy purposes and use English and Fijian for interethnic communication. The current education policy states that children be taught in their mother tongue for the first 3 years of primary school before English becomes the medium of instruction. This practice was not apparent in the schools. In all 24 observed classrooms, English was the dominant language of instruction. There is an important need in Fiji for teacher training to address the issues around multilingual education so that teachers can confidently contribute to an educational system which maximises the use of Fiji's linguistic resources for the educational advancement of all sectors of the country's population. © 2006 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Publication metadata

Author(s): Shameem N

Publication type: Article

Publication status: Published

Journal: International Journal of Educational Development

Year: 2007

Volume: 27

Issue: 1

Pages: 39-60

Print publication date: 01/01/2007

ISSN (print): 0738-0593

ISSN (electronic):

Publisher: Pergamon

URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ijedudev.2006.04.015

DOI: 10.1016/j.ijedudev.2006.04.015

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