In my visit I was not presented with any evidence or any view that the use of English by eliteeducated groups is impacting or likely to impact directly on local languages. Nonetheless, it wouldbe wise of the Ministry and other agencies to take precautions in this area, and I would support Coleman’s recommendation that, “Education policy makers need to explore the implications of using and not using the mother tongue as the medium of instruction in early education. There may be risks associated with not using the mother tongue which policy makers are unaware of.”
(Coleman 2009: 59)This might include ensuring that language policymakers are aware of the issue, and also to assist with the support for, and education in, local languages alongside the funding of English. In my viewit may not necessary or indeed possible to choose between one approach and the other, sincesupport for both English and local languages is surely possible and probably appropriate.