Question NW988 to the Minister of Basic Education
18 May 2017 - NW988
Van Dalen, Mr P to ask the Minister of Basic Education
(1)Whether, with reference to her reply to question 492 on 31 March 2017, the results of the pilot project in Cofimvaba using isiXhosa as the language of teaching and learning have been compiled; if not, by when will the results be compiled; if so, what were the results; (2) (a) what are the names of the schools that were selected to participate in the pilot project and (b) how were these schools selected; (3) were learners at each of the 81 participating schools given an opportunity to choose to participate in the pilot project; (4) (a) on which research findings that concluded that learners learn best through their home languages did her department base its policy and (b) why is English still the language of teaching and learning in the majority of schools from Grade 4 onwards; (5) will her department be undertaking a study to determine the demand for mother tongue education in each of the official languages; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details
Reply:
The DBE has forwarded questions 1, 2 and 3 to the Eastern Cape Provincial Education for a response. Once received the response will be forwarded to the National Assembly.
(1) Waiting for a response from the EC.
(2)(a) Waiting for a response from the EC.
(b) Waiting for a response from the EC.
3.Waiting for a response from the EC.
(4)(a) UNESCO has published much literature on the importance of mother tongue education. Provisions for education in mother tongue are contained in several international conventions, namely, the Indigenous and Tribal Peoples Convention (1989), the Convention on the Rights of the Child (1989) and the International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of their Families (1990).
(b) Section 29(2) of the SA Constitution makes provision for everyone “to receive education in the official language or languages of their choice in public educational institutions where that education is reasonably practicable.”
The Language in Education Policy, which is premised on the imperatives of the Constitution, provides for learners to learn through any of the eleven official languages. Learners and schools have an option from Grade 4 onwards to select a language of their choice for learning and teaching, and that includes English or Afrikaans.
5.The Eastern Cape Province, upon concluding the evaluation of their Mother Tongue Based Bilingual Education pilot initiative, will present their findings to the Department of Basic Education. Thereafter a determination for a demand of mother tongue in the other official languages will be made.