Kenyan Kiswahili Scholars Participate in Regional Workshop to Develop University Curriculum Benchmarks

From left; Dr Anifa Atuhaire  Kyambogo University, Uganda, Prof Mosol Kandagor, Moi University, Kenya,  Prof Idris A. Rai, Ag Executive Secretary, IUCEA, Dr Zainabu Idd, State University of Zanzibar, Dr Sarah Ndanu Ngesu, South Eastern Kenya University, Prof, Alexis Ndabarushimana, In-Charge of the Project, Dr Robert Ayine who facilitated the sessions and coordinated discussions in line with the East African Community’s higher education agenda and other IUCEA staff pose for a group photo in Entebbe,  Uganda during a regional workshop for developing academic benchmarks for the Bachelor of Arts in Kiswahili programme.  The workshop was held from June 16th to June 18th 2025.

The workshop convened Kiswahili experts from Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, Somalia, South Sudan, and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) to create a unified academic framework that will guide curriculum design, teaching practices, student assessment, and quality assurance in Kiswahili programmes at the university level.

Kenya was represented by Dr. Sarah Ndanu Mwangangi Ngesu of South Eastern Kenya University and Prof. Mosol Kandagor of Moi University, both respected leaders in Kiswahili education and curriculum development.

Other representatives included:

*Burundi: Dr. Irankeje Fiacre and Mr. Mahariyo Innocent

*Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC): Prof. Kaby Muhubao and Mr. Kitandala Lulonga Zola

*Rwanda: Dr. Wallace Kapele Mlaga and Mr. Sylvain Ntawiyanga

*Somalia: Dr. Abdullah Ibrahim Mohamed

*Uganda: Dr. Atuhaire Anifa, Dr. Richard Ouma, and Dr. Boaz Mutungi

*Tanzania: Dr. Zainabu Idd and Dr. Rajabu Chipila

The workshop was led by senior officers from IUCEA, including Prof. Alexis Ndabarushimana, Prof. Michael Mawa, and Dr. Robert Ayine, who facilitated the sessions and coordinated discussions in line with the East African Community’s higher education agenda.

The core aim of the workshop was to develop harmonized academic benchmarks for the Bachelor of Arts in Kiswahili programme, providing a shared standard for course content, learning outcomes, and pedagogical approaches. This harmonization will help ensure academic quality across institutions while reinforcing Kiswahili’s role as a scholarly and cultural pillar of East Africa.

In her remarks, Dr. Sarah Ngesu highlighted the long-term value of the exercise: “This process will ensure that the teaching of Kiswahili at the university level reflects shared academic standards across East Africa. It is about more than just harmonization; it is about safeguarding the future of Kiswahili as a language of knowledge, identity, and unity.”

One of the most promising outcomes of the benchmarking initiative is the potential to enhance student mobility across the region. A harmonized curriculum will make it easier for students to transfer credits, enrol in institutions outside their home countries, and have their qualifications recognized across East Africa. This will foster academic exchange, cultural interaction, and deeper regional integration.

The initiative supports broader continental goals, aligning with the African Union’s Agenda 2063 and the East African Community’s education harmonization strategy. By positioning Kiswahili as a language of instruction, diplomacy, and innovation, the benchmarks will contribute to the development of a robust, inclusive, and future-ready African education system.

As the workshop concluded on 18th June 2025, participants expressed confidence that the outcomes would serve as a cornerstone for the future of Kiswahili in higher education and as a catalyst for deeper academic collaboration across borders.