The role of Kiswahili in enhancing the potential of science and technology
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Date
2009-03
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The Journal of Pan African Studies
Abstract
The 21st Century is widely considered to be the epoch of science and technology. Many
institutions of higher learning, including Masinde Muliro University of Science and Technology
in Kenya, are developing academic programmes in Science and Technology in order to foster
national development and ultimately improve the quality of life in society. For this reason, most
institutions embrace a multidisciplinary approach where programmes in science, engineering,
humanities and languages are integrated. The integrated approach in higher education has
raised a number of pertinent questions: What is the role of higher institutions of science and
technology? What is the place of language within the integrated approach? Can Kiswahili make
any contribution in enhancing the potential of science and technology in development?
This paper seeks to provide answers to the foregoing questions by illustrating the centrality of
language as a medium of creating, transmitting and disseminating knowledge in science and
technology, with specific reference to English and Kiswahili in Kenya. It is observed that the
current age of science and technology is characterized by knowledge and information explosion;
whoever accesses and utilizes these two commodities speedily has advantage over others.
Efficiency and effectiveness of the medium that the knowledge and information are transmitted in
thus becomes a key factor. Thus, the paper suggests concrete steps that can be taken by
institutions of higher learning, planners, policy makers and scholars to ensure that the two
languages, Kiswahili and English, facilitate the contribution of science and technology to
development.
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Citation
vol.2, no.8