Growing roots and wings: a case study on English literacy in Namibia

Abstract

"Namibia, a country in Southern Africa, has had a long history of being dominated by outside forces, as do nearly all African countries. Namibia was first colonized under Germany from 1884 until 1915, a period that was followed by the long reign of South African rule and apartheid from 1915 until 1990. The new educational policies developed by independent Namibia were based on Western curricula (Nekwheva, 1999). English is the language of education beginning in grade 4, though this is a second or third language for nearly all learners"