Blade revives African languages
HIGHER Education Minister Blade Nzimande wants to force university students to study at least one African language as a condition to graduate.
Nzimande said the issue of the development of African languages at universities "is something that I am taking up as a special ministerial project and also to look at how to strengthen the teaching and expansion of African languages in our universities".
Nzimande said this during the launch of the New Strategic Planning Framework for Teacher Education in Pretoria yesterday.
"One of the things we are looking into as part of the task I have given to an advisory panel, is to what extent we should consider for instance that every university student in South Africa must learn at least one African language as a condition for graduation," Nzimande said.
Pan South African Language Board acting chief executive Chris Swepu said: "We have always had a problem with most universities closing down African studies departments.
"We welcome the move by the minister. White people have been in the country for more than 300 years but they are still not willing to learn our languages. The government must make it policy that if you want a government job you have to know an African language."
The minister said the teacher education plan had identified the availability of qualified and capable African language foundation phase teachers as being problematic.
He said this had severe implications for the development of early numeracy and literacy, adding that African language learners in poor, rural contexts were most affected.
Basic Education Minister Angie Motshekga said the new education plan will pay more attention to schools that have performed below 60percent in the matric exams.
Though he commended the department for the plan, Sadtu general secretary Mugwena Maluleke emphasised that priority must be to accelerate the implementation.
lucky7
You implement African language that won't even help when looking for a job.Report Abuse
Voiceoftheforgotten
You are mad Nzimande! If I wanted to study an African language I would register for it or do linguistics or whatever you call it. Improve the quality of learning in these institutions and stop focusing on NONSENSE!!!Report Abuse
ericjhb
Lets focus on educating and graduating as many students as possible. The curriculum is fine, no need to tamper with it!Report Abuse
Mkhulu
Bravo Mr Nzimande but it start from primary schools. Let it be compulsory that a Learner passes the African language of the province he / she is studying from ie: If you attend school in Eastern Cape then make sure that you pass Xhosa, If you are in KZN, then you should pass IsiZULU etc.I was so embarassed the other day in England. I met a South African lady of Indian origin. When she told me that she is from KZN, I said to her " Kunjani ? and she said " Sorry I can't speak Zulu". immagine she claims to be South African and from KZN but cannot speak the KZN Language, Sis Maan.
Please Mr Nzimande force the African languages down their throats as the English is forced to us.
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Mutoma
Imagine forcing a 20 year old to learn an African language. people use your brains, impliment this on lower levels of education. you messed up the curriculum in high school level and now its gonna be varsities. in S.A every leader cums in with their curriculum.Report Abuse
Nonc3ba
Ke dumelana le wena lucky7 & Mutoma, we struggled to pass them too so why now. This shouldn't be forced on students and it should start from primary school.Report Abuse
Mahlol'adibona
Mr Nzimande, did you p!ssed off by a coconut recently for you to come with this nonsense? I and fine speaking all the 11 official languages and 4 more foreign ones as it is the talent I have. Don't force this language issue down our throat like you are doing with the toll-gates. Get a life man, as I was embarrased listening to Pres Zuma struggling and then mispronouncing the name of ex-finance DG Lesetja Kganyago.Report Abuse
leShandis
- i go with Blade on this one...- Look how chinese and Arabs, their e-mails, interrnet pages are written in their coded languages...
- @Mkhulu, its not that she doesnt know how to respond to "kunjani", uyazitshela and looking down as usual on kubantu bomdabu...
- i was fascinated when i saw on TV i think a school in EC where a chines boy was speaking isiXhosa perfectly and another white boy speaking it fluently.....So whats the problem of learning one or 2 african languages....
- this must be started at primary schools so that it can be easier when pupils get on a higher levels....
- some black people say what will african languages do for them, but at the same time they are learnig french, german, greek etc etc....Lafa elihle-hle....
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MABIDIKAMA
Bravo Mr Blade, just what i have always said to my friends,@ Lucky 7- We don't learn langueges for job purpose only, anyway why did i learn Afrikaans @ school? for communication purpose with anyone in my country.
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BrJ1063
I guess the Afrikaans language wil have to be forced to our children as well since Mzi wants to force african languages to white ppl. Yu fought amongst other things not to be forced to learn in afrikaans during the aparteid era and now this.... Pls Mzi try to fix our varsity carriculum so our brothers and sisters can stop struggling to get decent jobs. Focus on some that will benefit all the South African, not this.....You all should start learning afrikaans language before mumbling on this block ppl...
Ke fetsa ke realo....
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