The Connection of Education for Sustainable Development and Language in African Educational Institutions – A Systematic Literature Review

Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) gained global momentum in recent years. However, little is understood about the connection of ESD and language, which has been identified as being among the most underestimated and under-researched parameters of sustainable development. In order to fill this gap, this paper systematically reviews scholarly literature on the connection of ESD and language. Of the 33 papers examined for this review, which exclusively dealt with language and ESD in an African educational setting, the majority took a theoretical rather than empirical approach. Most of the existing research focused on a general educational context, followed by primary and secondary education, and lastly higher education. Almost all authors recommended further research into African languages, highlighting the need to integrate African languages and indigenous knowledge systems in order to support various development agendas. Further neglect of the language factor might otherwise endanger the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals.