This paper briefly summarizes the research results on the diversity of primary languages among preprimary
learners in Epako, a township of Gobabis, the district capital of the Omaheke Region in
Namibia. It includes 16 pre-primary institutions in Epako and shows the overall outcomes of the childrenquestionnaire
for pre-primary learners, evaluated at 22nd of March 2013. During the research period, the
primary languages of 466 pre-primary learners were identified.
Altogether, 76,4% of the questioned pre-primary learners have the possibility to receive primary
education in their primary languages Khoekhoegowab and Othjiherero at schools in Epako. Children
speaking Afrikaans, Ju/’hoansi, Naro, Oshiwambo, Rukwangali and other languages do not have access
to mother tongue education in Epako.
The number of pre-primary learners speaking Ju/’hoansi and Oshiwambo is, according to the National
Curriculum for Basic Education (Namibian Ministry of Education 2008), high enough to implement
grade 1 classes or multi-grade classes with mother tongue education in 2014, if these children enter one
particular school.