School kids from the Milton Mbekela school wave flags as they sing wishing former South African president Nelson Mandela a happy birthday on July 18, 2013 in Qunu. South African students will soon have the option to study Kiswahili in their schools. PHOTO | AFP
South Africa has become the first southern African country to offer Kiswahili as an optional subject in schools, raising hopes for the growth of the language considered the lingua franca of East Africa.
Kiswahili will be taught along with French, German and Mandarin. The government plans to roll out the teaching in 90 schools.
