VIDEO: Mandarin to be introduced in schools from 2016
JOBURG – Department of Education has announced that from next year, it will offer the Chinese language as an additional subject in schools.
The Basic Education Department recently announced the introduction of Mandarin in public schools from next year.
The Chinese language will be a second language option for Grade 4 to 12 pupils.
According to the department’s spokesperson Elijah Mhlanga, Mandarin will not be offered for Grade R to Grade 3 because “the programme requirements for the foundation phase do not allow a non-official language”.
According to Mhlanga, in the foundation phase pupils are required to take two languages a home language and a first additional language.
“The offering of an additional non-official language starts at Intermediate Phase, except for learners who have been granted concessions,” he said.
Mandarin will fall into the same subject category as German, Serbian, Latin, Portuguese, Tamil, Telegu and Urdu.
Constantia Kloof Primary School and Dainfern College are part of the seven schools listed as ready to provide subject as a second language option.
According to Peter Baur senior Lecturer at the Department of Economics and Econometrics at the University of Johannesburg this is a positive move.
“We have allowed pupils to do new subjects before so this is not the first time. However economically this is positive because China is one of our biggest trade partners and being able to speak their language would be an advantage,” he said.
According to Baur South Africa has numerous Chinese investors and the new addition will facilitate foreign investments and trade.
Learn some basic Mandarin:
