Presentation of the Summary of the Harare 1997 conference for readers of the Bisharat! web site. Return to Basic Documents.
Intergovernmental
Conference
on Language Policies in Africa
Harare 1997
PLAN OF ACTION
The Plan proposes actions at the regional, sub-regional and national levels. It states the nature of each action as well as its objectives, targeted results, timeframe, and implementing bodies.
|
No |
ACTIVITY |
OBJECTIVE |
RESULT TARGETED |
TIMEFRAME |
IMPLEMENTING BODIES |
|
1 |
Defining Language Policies |
Rehabilitating National languages |
A precise, consistent language policy for each country (status – function) |
Short term (1998-1999) |
Each state |
|
2 |
Language Management Plan |
Implementation of the language policy |
Typology and use of national languages in the various spheres of activities (politics, administration, literacy) |
Short and medium term (1998-2000) |
Each country |
|
3 |
Setting up national structures |
Creation and revitalisation of operational policy and technical structures for the implementation and direction of the Action Plan |
The existence of functional structures (political, technical, pedagogical ...) |
Short and medium term (1998-2000) |
All countries |
|
4 |
Language Atlas of Africa |
Typology of African languages |
An exhaustive inventory of all African languages and language areas |
Medium term (2000-2002) |
UNESCO, OAU, ACCT, other partners |
|
5 |
Revitalising regional and sub-regional structures (CICIBA, EACROTANAL, CELTHO, etc.) |
Effective involvement in the promotion of African languages |
Rehabilitation of national and trans-national languages |
Medium and long term (1999-2010) |
Regional and sub-regional institutions and partners |
|
6 |
Producing linguistic and didactic tools |
Intensive production of linguistic tools and didactic material |
The promotion of a reading environment in local, sub-regional and regional languages |
Short, medium and long term |
Countries, regional and sub-regional organisations, UNESCO and partners |
|
7 |
Teaching of local, sub-regional and regional languages |
Using these languages as media of instruction and teaching them |
The mastery of knowledge and know-how, and the development of skills and identity by the actors involved in language reform and the target groups though these languages |
Medium and long term |
IDEM |
|
8 |
Literacy |
The conduct of extensive literacy campaigns |
Populations educated (in reading, writing, arithmetic) in the various African languages |
Medium and long term |
Countries, sub-regional and regional organizations, UNESCO, OAU and other partners |
|
9 |
Regional and sub-regional cooperation Congress of the Panafrican Association of Linguistics |
The promotion of national and transnational languages as tools for inter-African cooperation Create a panafrican association |
The promotion of dynamic networks for multisectoral cooperation through transnational languages Contribute individually and collectively to the promotion of African languages |
Medium and long term Short term |
Countries, sub-regional and regional organisations OAU, UNESCO and ACCT |
|
10 |
Follow-up and evaluation |
Ensuring proper coordination of the activities and measuring their impact |
Implementation of the language management plan and the Action Plan |
Biennial |
Countries, sub-regional and regional organizations, UNESCO, OAU and other partners |
THE ACTION PLAN:
TITLE: Practical Guidelines in order to define what actions to take on the national level
To define, adopt and carry out a clear and coherent global language policy.
a) status, place rôle and importance of current languages (by category)
b) functions, domains and priority sectors of use
c) general and specific objectives
d) conclusions and perspectives
e) coherent, realistic, flexible and progressive global strategy (master plan, operational calendar, resources, measures and decisions, legislations)
To set up political and technical management infrastructure:
a) Central structure for Design, Piloting, Follow-up and Evaluation
b) Sector and Multi-sector based technical structures for Operational Management
Put into place the financial material, techniques and human resources
Initial definition and setting up:
a) Improvement and scientific development of national languages
b)
Improvement and development of circulars:
-
objectives, functions and pedagogical aims
- programmes
and contents by level
- pedagogical
status of current languages
- Pedagogical
Schemes for reference purposes
- Profile
and attitudes
- Internal
pedagogical progress records
- Methodology
and Teaching material
- Training
and improvement
- Evaluation
methods and criteria
- Norms
and cerrtification
c) Timing and carrying out the National Awareness campaign
d)
Master Plan for multi-promotion of National languages: type, objectives, means
and operational phases
- Education/Literacy
- Administration
- Economy
- Culture
and the Media
- Politics
and Democracy
e) - Definition
of the principal domains, sustainable development and expertise
- Technology
transfer and gathering resources
- Production
of teaching material
- Exchange
of expertise
- A
Multi-platform support including Institutions, Techniques, Equipment and Financial
considerations
June-Dec 1997 Creation of the Interdisciplinary team to draw up and pilot the programmes
Aug-Dec 1997 Search for funding
1998-2000 Put into operation the language policy
TITLE: Creation of African Research Studies (Language – Culture – History)
Develop inter-university exchanges and African Studies in all the African universities – moving towards an open African university
It is up to each country to find the means to create these departments of these departments [sic] through international cooperation (ACCT, UNESCO, ...). Inter-African cooperation : exchange of specialist advisers.
Regional and sub-regional consultations on existing structures in order to assure a concerted action and complementary programmes.
It is necessary to fix a deadline for the creation of these departments (5 years). 2002 or 2005 at the very latest.
TITLE: Creation of a Language Map of contemporary Africa
The objectives are:
Descriptive: To have an accurate overview of the current state of the languages
Explanatory: Explanation of the trends (developing or regressing)
Prescriptive: Suggest realistic solutions to remedy weaknesses
- Integration into UNESCO’s World Atlas project (LINGUAPAX)
- The possibility to have recourse to a participation Programme (Finance year 1998/9)
- Future cooperation with UNICEF on the basis of a clearly defined project, based on a language theme (UNESCO/MONS-Hament) etc.
1997 Search for Financial aid
1998 Startup of Research work
1999-2005 Publication of Results
TITLE: International Centre of Bantu Civilizations (CICIBA)
Revival of CICIBA as Information Centre and Cultural Research in the region [sic]
- re-focus the Centre’s activities around its Data Bank
- Re-activate the printing department of CICIBA to enable it to produce publications
- Important contribution from the National office
- European Union subsidy
- Contributions from other Member States which are not subject to regular donations
- Bring in OUA, UNESCO and the ACCT to help re-focus the activities of the Centre.
Short term (July 1997): Meeting at Libreville between the competent Gabonese authorities, the Secretariat of CICIBA, with the representatives of UNESCO and the OUA.
Mid-term (Sept-Oct 1997): Initiation of activities
TITLE: East African Centre for Research into Oral Traditions and African National Languages
- Consultancy leading to the revival of the centre in order to make it functional within the context of the new cultural, socio-political and economic environment existing in the region.
- To attune the operations of the Research centre to the needs of the Member States;
- To enable the operations of the Research centre to be more relevant and efficient.
Sponsorship from UNESCO, OUA, ACCT and/or other sponsors
- Convening meetings of administrative committees and ministerial advisers as well as researchers
- Appointment of new staff
Administrative, Technical and Research
July 1997 - Interim report (Review current situation regarding Tanz[an]ian funding)
Sept 1997 - Consultancy startup
Dec 1997 - Submission of Findings
- Administrative committee and Ministerial Advisers to receive and act on the reports
Jan 1998 Re-opening the Centre
TITLE: Supply course books for students with Teaching manuals for the Tutors
Research and application
Supply schools with teaching materials and equipment adapted to the Tutors and the students (of equivalent quality as those already existing in foreign languages)
Integrate with OUA programme and cooperation with the UNESCO LINGUAPAX project of student text-book and Teaching guide conception
Establish a course syllabus for the Material Writers of the student books (Induction, Follow-on and Specialist seminars), with a possible recourse to UNESCO’s participation (and/or UNICEF)
Identify teams of Material Writers on the basis of linguistic and teaching competence
TITLE: Pilot project – The Kiswahili language for the out-of-work youth (target population)
Cooperation between four or more countries interested in using this language for the undertaking of the following activities:
- Designing professional training courses and the promotion of activities that would generate revenue. Inter-disciplinary seminars given by Specialists involved in the project. Implication/involvement of NGOs and the general public. Creation of national infrastructures and a framework for sub-regional co-operation.
Develop a spirit of co-operation and a common destiny. Create an environment which may encourage democracy in a pluralist context, promotion and preservation of an African cultural identity and reinforce pride and confidence of African citizens.
- Design and production of educational and teaching materials in Kiswahili
- Teacher Training
- Create two fully equipped activity centres to generate revenue
- Popularization of Science and Technology through the fields of Health and Environment work etc.
Initial duration: 3 years
Start of project: November 1997 : sub-regional meetings
Planning of activities. Awareness seminars
TITLE: Teaching of local/regional languages
Teach local/regional languages in primary and secondary schools
Define existing funds
Define needs
Define local financial sources and sponsors
Awareness campaign at all levels
Committees of Conception, Development and Follow-up
TITLE: Teach national languages in rural zones using experienced Teachers
Deepen scientific knowledge and skills in their professional life
Organize seminars and workshops in national languages in agriculture and animal rearing to make the country-folk aware of basic notions of Science and Technology
The Ministers concerned should make all necessary funds available for the Trainers
Encourage a dialogue in the district at county, regional and sub-regional level. Organize stud trips for Trainers in neighboring countries sharing the same language
1998-9 Startup of activities
TITLE: Pan-African Congress of Linguists
Assemble national associations, sub-regional, regions of linguists, [sic] and also the Institutions of research and promotion of the African languages
Constitute an Association or Pan-African federation of linguists likely to bring collectively and individually their own contribution to the development of African languages.
- Organizing a Congress
- Sponsorship of participants (1 per country)
Preliminary working out of a project
1 June
– December 1997. Consultations with a view to make an inventory of the national
associations, regional and sub-regional
– contributions to project and work of Congress
– financial contributions search and approach host countries
2 January – March 1998. Preparation of Congress
3 March 1998. Hold Congress
OBJECTIVES
UNESCO to note in the General budget the funds required to hold the Follow-up committee meeting designated by the Conference. It is composed of eleven members: a representative from each region of Africa (North, West, Central, East and South), a representative from Zimbabwe, a representative from each of the International Organizations which had organized jointly the Conference of Harare (UNESCO, OUA, ACCT) and Professors O. Okombo and Ph. Ntahombaye, President of the meeting of Experts and President of the Reports committee respectively.
Contribution of the OUA and ACCT.
Extended Meeting, lasting for one week, during the first quarter of 1998 to identify the action programmes and the provisional budget and in the second quarter of 1999 to prepare the Evaluation Report.
Printed copy & permission to weblish obtained courtesy of Culturelink, with thanks to Dr. Biserka Cvjeticanin.