FOR WRITTEN REPLY
QUESTION 2199
DATE OF PUBLICATION OF INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER: 06/11/09
(INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER 27-2009)
Mr PF Smith (IFP) to ask the Minister of Basic Education:
(1) How many public schools conduct their primary level teaching in
mother tongue languages other than English and Afrikaans;
(2) whether her department has commissioned any study or considered
any other studies from other sources indicating the impact of
primary level mother tongue instruction on performance in
secondary schooling where teaching takes place in a language
other than the mother tongue; if not, why not; if so, what were
the findings;
(3) whether these findings inform current language policy; if so, in
what way? NW2760E
REPLY:
1) According to our records there are 15 282 public schools out of a
total of 24Â 979 that offer mother tongue languages (other than
English and Afrikaans) as a medium of instruction in all or some
Grades.
2) The Department conducts regular systemic evaluations at Grades 3
and 6. These show that transition to English as the language of
learning and teaching, more especially for rural learners, happens
too early for such learners to have developed fully their cognitive
skills in their home languages.
The Department subscribes to international research findings that
learners who learn through their home languages in their primary
schooling perform better in higher grades. The National Curriculum
Statement thus recommends that ââ¦the learnerâs home language should
be used for learning and teaching wherever possible. This is
particularly important in the Foundation Phase where children learn
to read and write.â
3) It is on this premise that the Language in Education Policy has an
underlying principle to maintain home language instruction while
providing access to and the effective acquisition of additional
language(s), especially the language of learning and teaching.
Compiler: Nematangari M R
Ext: 5217
DEPUTY DIRECTOR-GENERAL: GENERAL EDUCATION
DATE:
DIRECTOR -GENERAL
DATE:
QUESTION 2199 APPROVED/NOT APPROVED/AMENDED
MS MA MOTSHEKGA, MP
MINISTER OF BASIC EDUCATION
DATE: