Department of Basic Education implements African languages plan
Minister Motshekga says there are 682 schools in Gauteng not offering African languages.
Kwatsaduza – The Minister of Basic Education Angie Motshekga says she is happy with the progress made with the implementation of the Incremental Introduction of African Languages (IIAL) strategy in public schools.
Motshekga was reporting to the education portfolio in parliament on the work done towards ensuring all public schools offer at least one indigenous African language to learners.
Motshekga says although there were challenges in some provinces, they were related to funding and not opposition to the initiative.
“In 2013 the department announced plans to strengthen the teaching of African languages through the Incremental Introduction of African Languages (IIAL) strategy.
“This is a priority programme aimed at promoting social cohesion in our society.
“This strategy targets all public schools that are currently not offering a previously marginalised official language,” she says.
Motshekga says there were 3 558 schools in 2013 that were not offering African languages as a subject.
“The number has since declined following the implementation of the strategy in 842 schools in 2016.
“Currently there are 973 schools that are implementing the IIAL in the 2017 academic year,” she explained.
Motshekga says the department has approved that all 3 558 identified schools should implement the IIAL strategy in Grade One in 2018.
“The objectives of the IIAL are to improve proficiency in and utility of the previously marginalised African languages and to increase access to languages by all learners beyond English and Afrikaans.
“The initiative would expand opportunities for the development of African languages to help preserve the heritage and cultures.
“We want to ensure that all learners offer at least one previously marginalised official African language as part of the curriculum requirement and to strengthen the use of African languages at home language level.
“There are 682 schools in Gauteng not offering African languages,” she added.
Mathanzima Mweli, the director general of the Department of Basic Education, told parliament that the main costs for the implementation of IIAL were the provision of textbooks, workbooks and teachers.
“The department has learnt some lessons from the pilot conducted in 2014 but also from provinces that have made progress in the implementation,.
“The IIAL will be implemented incrementally in all the targeted schools in Grade One in 2018 and in subsequent years until Grade 12 in 2029,” says Mweli.
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