Kenyans ranked second-best in English proficiency in Africa

Kenyans ranked second-best in English proficiency in Africa

- Kenyans were ranked number 18 in the world as among the best in English proficiency

- South Africa was ranked top in Africa followed closely by Kenya

- In terms of cities, Nairobi was ranked number one in Africa followed by Lagos

- The ranking was based on English proficiency tests done by a sample of adults in countries that participated

- Our Manifesto: This is what YEN.com.gh believes in

Kenyans are the second-best in English language proficiency in Africa according to the latest report by a global private language tutor, Education First (EF).

The country was ranked number 18 in the world with South Africa being ranked number six globally and best in the continent.

READ ALSO: COVID-19 update: 8 new deaths send Ghana’s death toll to 66

Kenyans ranked second best in English proficiency in Africa
Kenyans celebrating during a past competition at Moi Sports Centre Kasarani. Photo: Daily Nation
Source: UGC

READ ALSO: 2 passenger planes collide at UK, nose hooked under wing

The English Proficiency Index (EPI) by the Switzerland-based company ranked Kenya behind South Africa even though Nairobi still emerged as the highest placed African city in English proficiency.

Other African countries that appeared in the top 100 list included Nigeria (29), Ethiopia (63), Tunisia (65), Egypt (77), Cameroon (83), Sudan (87), Algeria (90), Ivory Coast (96) and Libya (100).

The top country in the world was the Netherlands followed by Sweden, Norway, Denmark, and Singapore finishing the list of the top five.

Kenya had a high proficiency EF EPI score of 60.51 with the Netherlands leading with 70.27%.

Kenyans ranked second best in English proficiency in Africa
The countries ranked according to their scores. Photo: Screenshot from EF English Proficiency Index.
Source: UGC

READ ALSO: UK prime minister Boris Johnson involved in car crash, his condition unknown

In terms of cities, Nairobi emerged top in Africa with an EPI score of 61.94% followed by Lagos which scored 58.47 %.

Africa’s average proficiency score dropped primarily due to score changes in South Africa and Ethiopia and the inclusion of Sudan and Cameroon, which both fall in the ''very low'' proficiency band, the report said.

"As in previous years, a few African countries performed well while the rest performed poorly, and the gap between higher and lower proficiency countries is wider than ever,
"The overall average for Africa dropped significantly, primarily due to score changes in South Africa and Ethiopia—both countries with large populations—and to the inclusion of Sudan and Cameroon, which were not in the Index last year, and both fall in the Very Low Proficiency band," read the report.
Kenyans ranked second best in English proficiency in Africa
The countries ranked according to their scores. Photo: Screenshot from EF English Proficiency Index.
Source: UGC

READ ALSO: Happy birthday Tupac Shakur: 5 cool facts about the late rapper

The EF report links English proficiency to innovation, public investment in research and development, number of researchers per a population of one million as well as technicians per capita.

"For the first time, we find that adults aged 26-30 have the strongest English skills. This finding reflects the growing prominence of English instruction in university education around the world," said EF.
Kenyans ranked second best in English proficiency in Africa
The cities ranked according to their scores. Photo: Screenshot from EF English Proficiency Index.
Source: UGC

The scores are achieved through analysing results from 2.3 million adults who took an online English test in 2018 via EF Standard English Test where 100 countries participated.

"This report investigates how and where English proficiency is developing around the world. To create the ninth edition of the EF English Proficiency Index, we have analysed the results of 2.3 million adults who took our English tests in 2018," read the report in part.

The impact of COVID-19 on trotro business in Ghana | #Yencomgh

Subscribe to watch new videos

Source: YEN.com.gh

Online view pixel