Principal nips mother tongue
A LIMPOPO school has banned the teaching of Xitsonga and Sepedi despite most pupils being speakers of the languages.
The move means that pupils at Fauna Park Primary School in the conservative town of Phalaborwa will not be afforded an opportunity to learn their mother tongue during the foundation phase.
From 2005, all former model C schools were required to introduce African languages for pupils of African origin to learn their mother tongues.
Health Minister Aaron Motsoaledi, then in his capacity as Limpopo education MEC, ensured that all schools that had to introduce African languages were allocated teachers to teach those languages.
Fauna Park had pupils learning Sepedi and Tsonga since most pupils at the school spoke those languages. But Edward Mayne, the school's principal, this year took a decision to stop teaching these langauges and redeployed the two teachers involved to other schools.
Of grave concern is that Mayne carried this out without consulting parents whose children attend the school, let alone the provincial department of education despite Fauna Park being a public school.
African-language speakers constitute most pupils at the school.
Moses Ramoshaba, a parent whose two children attend at the school, said there was no communication with regards to Mayne's decision and believed the decision was influenced by "jealousy and racism".
"As parents we should have been told about any decision that would affect our children, but this was not done," Ramoshaba said.
He said ever since African languages were introduced to the school its top pupils had been those of African origin "hence the jealousy".
"We are going to challenge the decision in order to ensure that African languages are reintroduced at the school," he said.
"We cannot allow a situation in which one person decides on the future of our children," said the angry parent.
Approached for comment, Mayne confirmed he had implemented the decision without consulting the parents. He said he would convene a meeting to inform parents of his decision.
"There is a valid reason for my decision but I cannot divulge further details at the moment," Mayne said.
Spokesman for the provincial department of education, Pat Kgomo, said parents had a say in terms of deciding whether their children should learn African languages at their schools.
"We view the action of the principal at Fauna Park Primary School in a serious light and will investigate and take action if necessary," Kgomo said.
Motsoaledi said he was implementing an education policy only in view of the new Curriculum 2005.
KarlZimbiri
The principal must be removed from the school and redeployed to another place. Big up to the parents in this school and the area in general, for standing up against the elimination of their languages. Unlike parents in other areas, who are actually happy & proud that their children cannot speak their mother tongue.Report Abuse
Papadi
oa gafa die man, yena bana ba gage their learning afrikaans ko skolong sa bona now he's denying others an opportunity! He's just an attention seeker coz now govt is keen on the use of mother tongue at learning institutions yena he wants to go his own way! Stupid principal.Report Abuse
Phalatruth
Before you guys slander this man any further, consider that this article is just one side of the truth. I know this man personally and he is no racists. The parents of this school sent their children to this school to learn English and Afrikaans. Please wake up people!Report Abuse
Phalatruth
Should a person not know how to speak their mother tongue by being taught this by their parents? Being able to speak fluently in English and Afrikaans, (especially English) is such an advantage when studying further at university and at the work place.Report Abuse
alonso
Phaltruth, you don't know what you are talking about. This are our children that needs to know how to write their mother tongue at school. We did not sent the children to leanr english and afrikaans, but to learn so that they cannot be illiterate. Knowing your mother tongue without writing it still make you illiterate. Pat Kgomo and Frank Maponya could you help us with Rooi School in Phalaborwa. They cannot admit great R pupils in an English class because they are waiting for Provincial Education department's approval. Presently the children there only do Afrikaans great R and they will have to continue with the Afrikaans stream until great 7. My girl stays two streets away from this school but I cannot enroll her there because of this. I think it is a form of exclusion which needs to be eradicated.Report Abuse
MATWEETWEE
I beleive the principal is doing the right thing i mean home languange can not get you a job especial African languange.they'res no interview that can be done by your home languangeAnyone can learn home languange from at home.
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HockeyNut
Graduates of Fauna Park normally attend the local high school which happens to be dual medium (English & Afrikaans), has anyone thought to how these children will survive if they have no basic foundation of English. Typically, only one side of the story has been reported here. I'm very sure Mr Mayne has a valid reason for making his decision.Should the parents of the children feel so strongly about having their children taught in Tsonga/Sepedi, why did they then send their children to the only English primary school in town, when they could have sent their children to a Tsonga/Sepedi teaching school in the surrounding community.
How will your children survive in an English world?
On a personal note, may years ago, I attended Mr Mayne's school - I only have the utmost respect for him and support him in his decision. And I can guarantee you, should you support the action to "remove him", your children will suffer.
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