BY JUNELYN KELLY
Education on grammar is gaining momentum as more and more Solomon Islanders take courses on the subject in two local institutions.
30 years ago, the word grammar was not often heard of in its use, and to become a common word across the Solomon Islands.
A statement by the Islands Bible Ministries in its Facebook page yesterday said for decades the study of grammar was largely confined to interpreter and language teachers, but a significant shift has occurred over the past two decades with two key organisations leading the charge in promoting its importance.
The Kulu Language institute and Islands Bible Ministries have been instrumental in focusing on writing and teaching English language and Biblical languages.
The statement said their grammar courses have attracted thousands of participants, including primary and secondary school students, teachers, other professionals, preschools, pastors and the general public.
The interest in this course has shown consistent growth year after year.
Dr Alpheaus G Zobule said that with over 70 languages is spoken in the country and English serves as the language of education.
The increasing attention to grammar is hardly surprising, many Solomon Islanders are multilingual speakers highlighting the practical need for strong grammatical understanding, he said.
Further solidifying this trend, the Education Act 2023 has designated English as the principal language of instruction from the primary level, Zobule said.
Zobule said the Act also recognises the uses of local’s languages, Pijin and even sign language to facilitate learning.
Photo: Supplied
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