“Research backs English as key to development"
A study into the economic impact of learning English in developing countries has concluded that the language can increase the earning power of individuals by around 25% and that developing economies need access to English if they are to grow and position themselves in the global economy.
The British Council, the UK's education and cultural relations organisation, which commissioned the report from Euromonitor, a leading research organisation, says that it is the first statistical research into the benefits of English in developing countries.
The report, which was published last month, gathers data from five target countries: three with linguistic links to Britain through colonialism, Nigeria, Bangladesh and Pakistan, and two with a stronger French-language colonial legacy, Cameroon and Rwanda.
The data was gathered from existing research and through interviews with businesses and employers in each country.
While English skills levels vary among Bangladesh, Nigeria and Pakistan, the researchers found a link between even a moderate competency and higher levels of investment from countries such as the US and UK. In the three countries, investment from English-speaking countries accounts for between 33% and 41% of total FDI.
"By contrast, largely French speaking Cameroon and Rwanda lose out, with only 2% and 1% of their total FDI coming from English-speaking countries," the report said.
But the report also shows that the benefits of English are seen predominantly by urban elites, who have access to a better standard of teaching – mostly delivered through private education – and higher-paid jobs.
Professor Chris Kennedy, director of the Centre for English Language Studies at the UK's Birmingham University, welcomed the report but said that it stopped short of offering insights into the effectiveness of government policies promoting English language learning, such as using English as the medium of instruction in schools, which is hotly debated.
"The report highlights the benefits, advantages and necessity of English in the modern world, but you also need to look at the complexities of the situation when you try to take the results of the report and implement them in policy," Kennedy said.
Journalist Zubeida Mustafa, whose book about her native Pakistan, Tyranny of Language in Education, was published last month, says the benefits of English in Pakistan are restricted to a tiny minority and have resulted in ineffective education policy.
"English cannot solve our ills. There are not enough teachers who know English and can teach in English. Children cannot comprehend what they are taught," Mustafa said.
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The British Council, the UK's education and cultural relations organisation, which commissioned the report from Euromonitor, a leading research organisation, says that it is the first statistical research into the benefits of English in developing countries.
The report, which was published last month, gathers data from five target countries: three with linguistic links to Britain through colonialism, Nigeria, Bangladesh and Pakistan, and two with a stronger French-language colonial legacy, Cameroon and Rwanda.
The data was gathered from existing research and through interviews with businesses and employers in each country.
While English skills levels vary among Bangladesh, Nigeria and Pakistan, the researchers found a link between even a moderate competency and higher levels of investment from countries such as the US and UK. In the three countries, investment from English-speaking countries accounts for between 33% and 41% of total FDI.
"By contrast, largely French speaking Cameroon and Rwanda lose out, with only 2% and 1% of their total FDI coming from English-speaking countries," the report said.
But the report also shows that the benefits of English are seen predominantly by urban elites, who have access to a better standard of teaching – mostly delivered through private education – and higher-paid jobs.
Professor Chris Kennedy, director of the Centre for English Language Studies at the UK's Birmingham University, welcomed the report but said that it stopped short of offering insights into the effectiveness of government policies promoting English language learning, such as using English as the medium of instruction in schools, which is hotly debated.
"The report highlights the benefits, advantages and necessity of English in the modern world, but you also need to look at the complexities of the situation when you try to take the results of the report and implement them in policy," Kennedy said.
Journalist Zubeida Mustafa, whose book about her native Pakistan, Tyranny of Language in Education, was published last month, says the benefits of English in Pakistan are restricted to a tiny minority and have resulted in ineffective education policy.
"English cannot solve our ills. There are not enough teachers who know English and can teach in English. Children cannot comprehend what they are taught," Mustafa said.
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