South Africa embraces Kiswahili as optional language in schools

Beginning next year, South African schools will offer pupils Kiswahili as an optional language class, starting with trials in 90 schools. 

French, German and Mandarin are all already optional subjects but Kiswahili will be the first African language from outside South Africa to be offered. 

Kiswahili is Africa’s most spoken language, with an estimated 100 million users - mostly in East Africa. The Southern African Development Community has accepted Kiswahili as its fourth official language of communication, alongside English, French and Portuguese.  It has become the first indigenous language to be officially adopted by the bloc. 

Tanzania and Kenya made Kiswahili compulsory in secondary schools in 1986 and an examinable subject 30 years ago. Sizeable populations in Rwanda, Burundi, the Democratic Republic of Congo and small pockets in Mozambique, Somalia, the Comoros Islands, northern Zambia and Malawi also speak it. 

In 2004, Kiswahili became one of the official languages of the African Union. 

Photo credit: British Council