Students and graduates in Kenya say learning in their mother tongue helps them understand lessons better, but English remains the dominant language needed for education, employment and wider opportunities.
Lona Chepkemoi, who returned to school through a scholarship after years away from education, said studying with the use of Kalenjin — her native language — alongside Kiswahili and English helped her understand concepts more clearly.
She said her earlier schooling was difficult because teachers mainly used English and examinations were conducted only in English.
Kenya’s education policy allows mother-tongue instruction in early primary years before English becomes the main language of teaching from later grades. However, many classrooms continue to switch between languages depending on location, teachers and students’ backgrounds.
Education experts say many African countries still use colonial-era languages such as English, French and Portuguese in schools, even when children grow up speaking local languages at home.
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) has warned that many learners worldwide are taught in languages they do not fully understand, affecting literacy and academic performance.
Some technical college students in Kenya say using local languages alongside English made them more confident and improved their learning.
Mason Ismael Kiplang’at said teachers who explained lessons in several languages helped students from different communities feel included.
However, education officials argue that English remains important because it is widely used in higher education and the job market.
The debate continues over how Kenya can balance the benefits of mother-tongue education with the need for English skills in a global economy.
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