BY THE BOOK: Jane Ngunjiri


Every parents can appreciate some help. In times past it was often the mother and the grandmother who gave sound advice to the fledging mother (and father). Or else an elder sister knew a few things through experience. These days things have changed to some degree. Parents can look to specialists, trained psychologists and educators … Continue reading BY THE BOOK: Jane Ngunjiri

“Having access to books in one’s mother-tongue and English can enable children to be powerful learners”


It is one thing to learn how to read. It is quite another thing to keep up your reading ability. You need access to books, newspapers, magazines. Even knowing how to read does not automatically mean that is is easy to read a book with all its won complexities.  Cindy Mkaza is working on a … Continue reading “Having access to books in one’s mother-tongue and English can enable children to be powerful learners”

We must get to the bottom of schools textbook mistakes


The writer of this article talks about a four legged stool having three legs, danger looms in a construction like that. This is not a safe situation for a child. This little story is mentioned for the situation of educational books is not very clear. How many books contain mistakes and every mistake is like … Continue reading We must get to the bottom of schools textbook mistakes

There are 2,144 African languages, using them in our universities will help, not hinder youth


In the world of African literature one of the recurring themes is the use of which language. Is a writer bound by a ‘colonial’ language? A language he learned at school, a language he perfected at university, but a language that often is his or her second or third language. The same theme applies to … Continue reading There are 2,144 African languages, using them in our universities will help, not hinder youth

Landeg White obituary


His name was completely unfamiliar to me when I read it in this news item in a newspaper. It is a obituary. The man who passed away is Landeg White who spent many years in several African countries in the educational field. His was specializing in the Lusophone part of the continent as a writer … Continue reading Landeg White obituary

Why we must change how we teach literature


Students flock to university in order to get a degree and in the end, after finishing the studies,  a proper job in which they can use the skills and the knowledge they gained during their studies. But what about teaching literature at our universities? This writer wonders if we need a thorough change at our … Continue reading Why we must change how we teach literature