[EDLING:915] Western Cape education department to make Xhosa compulsory

[Francis M Hult]

By way of the lg-policy list...

> http://www.iol.co.za/index.php?set_id=1&click_id=105&art_id=vn20050814110824167C752058
> 
>  Cape moves to make Xhosa compulsory
>     Igsaan Salie
>     August 14 2005 at 04:38PM
> 
> The Western Cape education department will take the first steps towards
> making Xhosa compulsory in all schools across the province from the
> beginning of next year.  Education MEC Cameron Dugmore told Sunday Argus
> he was confident that an implementation plan would be in place by the end
> of October and the first schools would start teaching the language next
> year.
> 
> At a Language in Education Policy Summit this week, Dugmore said the move
> followed national minister Naledi Pandor's call for all pupils to study an
> indigenous language. Dugmore said the implementation of the plan to make
> the language compulsory would be a slow process and the number of teachers
> would have to be increased.
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
> 
> 
> Two key aspects would be investigated. Learners would be taught in their
> mother tongue and learn English from Grade R to six.
> 
> "The second area sees an introduction of a third language in the
> curriculum probably during the senior phase of schooling which is grades
> seven to nine.
> 
> "For example Xhosa-speaking learners would have the option of learning
> Afrikaans and English-speaking learners would be able to learn Xhosa."
> 
> The issue of text books and reading material would also be addressed in
> the coming months, and he proposed creating "language lobby groups" by
> partnering with the Northern Cape and Eastern Cape in an attempt to create
> a big enough demand to interest publishers.
> 
> A task team would be formed at the end of the month to discuss the plan
> and Dugmore estimated that by December the province would adopt a
> language-in-education policy.
> 
> Xhosa teachers would be needed across the province and Dugmore said
> "direct engagement with tertiary education institutions will be crucial"
> to ensure that there would be employable Xhosa teachers available in the
> coming years.
> 
> Welcoming the announcement as "long overdue", Don Pasquallie of the South
> African Democratic Teachers' Union said unions and parents still needed to
> be consulted.
> 
> Paul Colditz, national chairperson of the Federation of Governing Bodies
> of South African Schools, expressed concern about making a specific
> language compulsory. He said learners should be given the choice of what
> language to study rather than a particular language be specified.
> 
> "By making a particular language compulsory we are moving back to 1976,"
> Colditz said.
> 
> 
> This article was originally published on page 1 of Sunday Argus on August
> 14, 2005
> 
> 
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