AFRICAN LANGUAGES FOR ALL KIDS
Theresa Smith

The Cape Argus
May 17 2005

The time has come to make the learning of an African indigenous language compulsory in all our schools, Education Minister Naledi Pandor declared today.

The statement during her budget speech drew applause from visitors in the National Assembly gallery.

Pandor also said no-fee schools would be introduced from next year and she would be improving funding support for poor pupils.

Fee exemptions would still be provided in fee-based public schools.

Referring to news reports that English might become optional in schools, Pandor said requirements of the Further Education and Training Curriculum stated that at least two languages, one of which had to be the language of learning and teaching, had to be taken by pupils in their last three years of school.

She said the new FET policy opened up the possibility of developing other official languages into languages of learning.

The minister said that this was in no way an anti-Afrikaans campaign. "All languages must be promoted and allowed to thrive."

Pandor did not indicate a time frame in which an African language would become compulsory.

Although the language issue was one of the most contentious, Pandor spoke about other challenges facing the education system.

She said it was clear that despite plans, an act, several initiatives and a quality assurance system, adult-based education and training targets for improving adult literacy were not working.

She would therefore establish a ministerial committee to investigate other countries' models of mass literacy.

"I have signed a letter of intent with my Cuban counterpart, Dr Luis Gomez, which included an intention to investigate South Africa's adoption and adaptation of a Cuban-inspired mass literacy model currently in use in Venezuela and New Zealand."

Funding of adult learning centres was being finalised.

Pandor said she was awaiting feedback from the SA Union of Vice-Chancellors about the department's proposals on limiting student enrolments to institutions of higher education.

Extract from address by Naledi Pandor, MP, Minister of Education, introducing the debate on the Education Budget (Vote 15), National Assembly

17 May 2005

On Sunday I read reports in the press that English was to be made optional in schools. The report suggested that children will no longer learn English. That is not the intention of the policy. It opens up the possibility of developing the other official languages into languages of learning and teaching. Clearly while we work to achieve this noble objective, the current choice of English and Afrikaans as the languages of learning and teaching will remain. In the past, before 1998, pupils were locked into a system that privileged Afrikaans and English for those in search of a matric endorsement. That is now no longer true and all languages will now be equally available as subject choices. ...

Language can and has been used as a tool of exclusion in our schools. As I have stated before, language in education cannot be seen solely as being about English or Afrikaans. The previously marginalized languages of our country require attention and affirmation. In this regard it is my view that we need to develop a language policy that vigorously and effectively promotes South African indigenous languages in all our schools.

This must not be read as an intention to neglect the relevance of acquiring competence in English; that would be a foolhardy objective on any minister's part. Our endeavour must be to ensure that the future history of indigenous languages, those spoken by the majority of black people in South Africa, those previously neglected and under-developed, move from the margins into centre stage in education.

I hope all members will agree that the time has come to make the learning of an African indigenous language compulsory in all our schools.

This approach confirms that the government is not against any language in our country. All languages must be promoted and allowed to thrive. There is no campaign against single-medium Afrikaans schools. There is no anti-Afrikaans campaign. There is a campaign to ensure that all our children have school places.