Assessment of Policy Frameworks and Stakeholders’ Needs for Development of Afaan Oromoo

Abstract

This study deals with the assessment of policy frameworks and stakeholders’ need for development of Afaan Oromoo. The study was based on qualitative methods with descriptive analysis as an overall design. In order to understand the policy framework pertaining to language status planning by political actors in Oromia National Regional State and those at the Federal Government level and other possible actors, qualitative method is suitable. Regarding data collecting techniques and sources, twenty informants (two from each stakeholders/offices) have been purposively selected. These are drawn from Oromia regional parliament (Caffee Oromiyaa), cultural affairs standing committee, Oromia Culture and Tourism Bureau, Oromia Culture and Tourism Bureau language Development Unit, 3 universities in Oromia offering PhD degrees in Afaan Oromoo programs namely Addis Ababa, Jimma and Wollega), Oromia Justice office and Oromia Legal Institutes, Oromia media institutions and Oromia Education Bureau and Oromoo Writers Association executive members and Ethiopian Languages and Cultures Academy. This sampling method was preferred because the research needs relevant informants who are capable of giving detail information on the matter. Besides, five authorities and experts from Ethiopian Culture and Tourism Minister were purposively selected and participated in the study. The findings of the study revealed that the 1995 Constitution of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia has set the legal framework for addressing the demands for equality of language rights better than ever before. The constitution gives equal recognition to all indigenous languages. The existing language related policy and legal documents seem relatively better compared to pre 1991 situations in terms of legal framework and policy issues. Yet, it is still far from fulfilling the interest of the people. The people, civic organizations, political groups, different professionals have been voicing their concerns for improvement and implementation of the legal frameworks and policy documents. The Oromoo youths deprived of work and other opportunities in Finfinne and other federal state offices due to lack of Amharic Language proficiency as it is the only official working language stipulated in the federal constitution as the only federal working language in practice.