They own this: Mother tongue instruction for indigenous Kuku Children in Southern Sudan

Abstract

This article details a pilot program of mother tongue instruction in five primary schools for classes one through three, in Kajokeji County, Central Equatoria State, South Sudan. The program was launched by teachers and volunteers with the support of the Jesuit Refugee Service, an international non-governmental organization. The research examines how mother tongue education impacted teaching and learning during one academic term. The article discusses the reasons for mother tongue education in Kajokeji, the implementation methods, the results of the pilot effort, and implications for educational personnel working with indigenous populations in Kajokeji, in South Sudan, and across the World.