Question NW835 to the Minister of Basic Education

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20 April 2016 - NW835

Profile picture: Davis, Mr GR

Davis, Mr GR to ask the Minister of Basic Education

(1)(a) How many schools across the country have introduced Mandarin as an optional subject since the start of the 2016 school year, (b) (i) what is the name of each specified school and (ii) which province is it situated in and (c) how many schools does her department envisage will offer Mandarin as an optional subject in the next five academic years and (d) which schools are earmarked to introduce Mandarin in the next five academic years; (2) (a) with reference to her reply to question 3645 on 19 October 2015, how many Chinese teachers have been brought to South Africa to teach Mandarin in our schools to date, (b) what was the cost of (i) relocating the specified teachers and (ii) paying their salaries and (c) is this cost borne by (i) her department, (ii) the Provincial Government concerned or (iii) another source in each case providing the relevant details; (3) how many South African teachers (a) are currently qualified to teach Mandarin, (b) will be trained to teach Mandarin in the next five academic years and (c) will be sent to China to learn how to teach Mandarin in the specified period?

Reply:

 

  1. (a) There are 15 schools across the country which are offering Mandarin using the CAPS (Second Additional Language) curriculum.

(b)

 

1(b)(i) Name of School

1(b) (ii) Province

1

Arcadia Primary School

Gauteng

2

Pretoria High School for Girls

Gauteng

3

Willowridge High School

Gauteng

4

HoÈ…rskool Die Wilgers

Gauteng

5

The Glen High School

Gauteng

6

Reddford House

Gauteng

7

Emthunzini Primary School

Gauteng

8

Moraoma Primary School

Gauteng

9

J.Kekana High School

Gauteng

10

Jefta Mahlangu High School

Gauteng

11

Worcester Gymnasium

Western Cape

12

Westford High School

Western Cape

13

Western Cape MST Academy

Western Cape

14

Diocesan School for Girls

Eastern Cape

15

Kearsney College

KwaZulu-Natal

(c) In the next five years, it is envisaged that 500 schools will offer Mandarin as a Second Additional Language.

(d) Schools have not been earmarked as yet.

2. (a) To date, two new teachers have been brought in for the pilot programme. Three more teachers are currently in the process of

being brought into the country.

(b)(i) The relocation arrangement of these teachers is, according to the China-South Africa agreement, and is paid by the People’s Republic of China (PRC). Hence the Department of Basic Education has no data on this item.

(ii) The salaries are being paid by the PRC.

(c)(i) Salaries are not being borne by the Department of Basic Education.

(ii) No costs are carried by the Provincial Education Departments.

(iii) No other party is involved in paying for salaries.

3. (a) Currently there is one South African teacher who is qualified to teach Mandarin.

(b) It is envisaged that 100 teachers per year will be trained in the next five years.

  (c) 100 teachers will be sent to China per year for purposes of methodological and cultural enrichment.

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