NATIONAL ASSEMBLY

ORAL REPLY

QUESTION 68

DATE OF PUBLICATION OF INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER: 28/02/2012

(INTERNAL PAPER: 5 2012)

Ms L N Moss (ANC) to ask the Minister of Basic Education:

(1)        What steps is she taking to promote the use of African-language teaching in schools in order for African-language learners to benefit more from the education they receive;

(2)        (a) which stakeholders are involved in the promotion of mother-tongue education and (b) what are the details of their contributions to educating learners in their mother-tongue?            NO500E

     REPLY

1.     The DBE encourages the use of mother tongue education in the Foundation Phase where learners learn in their Home Language. The Curriculum and Assessment Policy Statements (CAPS) are made available in all languages in this regards. The provisioning of Learning and Teaching Support Material (LTSM) on the National Catalogue is made available in all languages in the Foundation Phase.

The CAPS for the Intermediate Phase, Senior Phase and the FET for content subjects will be made available in all languages to bring the content subjects in line with the incremental introduction of African Languages where African Languages will be used as the language of teaching and learning .  The incremental introduction of African Languages will compel all non African Language learners to learn an African Language. 

Furthermore the DBE is planning to establish a Language Unit as per stipulation of the South African Language Bill.  The Language Unit will be responsible, amongst other things, for the development of relevant African Language terminology for all content subjects which enable our learners to access knowledge and skills in these subjects more effectively and with greater understanding since it will be offered in their mother tongue.

2(a) The DBE is working closely with key education stakeholders in this regard including unions SGBs, universities, NGOs and other government departments.

 (b) All stakeholders contribute within their areas of expertise. Unions and universities have assisted with the workbook projects to ensure that the books were made available in all official languages.