An educationist expressed concern at the poor matric performance in African languages in the 2016 matric results.
Mnyamezeli Ndevu, Joburg East district director said the Provincial Department of Education’s aim was to improve the quality and not only the quantity of passes obtained by all pupils from primary school level.
“Pupils should know that this applies to all subjects, which they should regard as equally important, in particular, the African languages when compared to the English language. Something is not right if African children cannot pass and be proud of home languages they speak daily,” Ndevu said.
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He also took a swipe at some teachers and officials who he said lacked enthusiasm when teaching African languages, saying they should stay at home rather than destroy the children’s futures. He said the same applied to the teachers’ overseers for failing to carry out their responsibility to ensure improvement in teaching African languages.
A pupil from Realogile Secondary School, Munyai Dembe (19), who excelled with several distinctions including an 84 per cent pass in Venda, said his success is derived from a belief in his ability and also pride in his culture. This, he said, was aided by a teacher, who urged him to be one of the few to have achieved a distinction in his language at the school and township in recent years.
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“I grew up listening to Phalaphala radio station and also bought a Venda dictionary with English and Afrikaans translations,” Munyai said, urging other pupils and the youth in general not to shy away from speaking their home languages in school and in public, as they were all equal and official in the country. He added that language would boost their self-confidence, improve their ability in communication – especially with the elderly – and that they should spend less time on social networks and concentrate on their school work.
Details: Joburg East District Gauteng Department of Education 011 666 9000.
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