For about a week now I have been exploring my abilities as a linguist in my current residence Tanzania. It may be strange to some people to learn that in Tanzania, a grown, married and possibly retired man has no clue on the first letter of the English alphabet!It's sad and appalling especially in a world that English is fast becoming a necessity in daily activities.
I recently joined a couple of friends in a project that involves teaching English to voluntary students in a shack somewhere in Dar Es Salaam. I call it a shack not by choice but by obligation because that is what it is,an open shelter covered by only iron sheets at the top. The lessons pull individuals from all walks of life ranging from age 16 to 60 all eager and willing to learn. The tragedy is that most of the teachers are international students volunteering there part time. These students will eventually leave the country for their homes and the fate of the "English Center" is too detrimental to contemplate. It is high time we took charge of our own people as Africans. The elite in Africa should help the illiterate gain literacy and the launching pad for this would be learning English.
Tanzania is just one among the many countries faced with acute lack of literacy on one extreme and extremely educated citizens on the other.When will the latter look at their needy counterpart?We can only wait and hope....
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