In trying to end the linguistic barrier in science studies in schools, SciAfrika has developed a comprehensive curriculum in native languages to enable science students study in their local languages.
In a statement, the CEO of SciAfrika, Mohammad Jamiu Shuaib, said the subjects that were traditionally taught in colonial languages such as English or French made millions of African students find themselves at a disadvantage, struggling to grasp complex concepts due to language barriers.
Shuaib said, “It is not about how good you are as a teacher or how amazing your teaching and classroom skills are. The first thing needed is communication and comprehension. I saw how serious and absorbed students were with teachers using their native languages for all sorts of subjects in classrooms. This encounter and others inspired the founding of SciAfrika.”
He stated that the curriculum was currently launched in the Yoruba language in subjects like mathematics, biology, physics and chemistry, with plans to expand to more indigenous languages and subjects.
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The CMO of SciAfrika, Jibril Salaudeen, said it had taught hundreds of kids for months and discovered there is a need for more languages to be included.
He said, “We decided to start at home where it hit the most and Yoruba was the language people were most eager to learn in. The platform boasts an interactive app portal that parents and students can download and use with or without an internet connection. This was a necessary functionality to reduce the access barrier and make the platform cheaper for students in communities that need it the most.”
The CTO of SciAfrika, Joshua Oyeleke, said, “Ease of use and accessibility were the core factors we looked at when building the platform. We wanted the app to be accessible to everyone, and we understand the challenges faced by a good population of Nigerians who need SciAfrika the most.”
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