A white paper is being drafted to formulate a bill to be sent out for public comment.

If passed, the bill will mean that former Model C schools will have to accept languages such as isiXhosa or any other indigenous language if a parent takes the school governing bodyto court.

The provincial government plans to have the bill ready by the end of the current financial year.

This was revealed by a senior official in the department of sports, recreation, arts and culture (Dsrac).

Government authorities said at the Eastern Cape education department language and mathematics indaba last Thursday that some former Model C schools in the province were resistant to allow isiXhosa as a first additional language.

Education MEC Mandla Makupula said senior officials in his department fear to intervene into language policy matters at former Model C schools.

Dsrac assistant manager in the language section, Mcoseleli Dukisa, said: "The Language Act is being formed ... and a white paper is planned to be in place at least by the end of the year and then a bill can be sent out for public comment."

He said those Model C schools that resisted compliance with the act would be prosecuted.

Dukisa said there was no such legislation in the province at the moment.

He said this meant that there was no piece of legislation to support Ayanda Duma's case other than the South African Schools' Act.

Duma, a mother of two, took Gonubie Primary School to court over a language policy dispute.

Duma went to court to force the school to make isiXhosa a first additional language.

Pan South African Language Board provincial senior language practitioner Lukhanyo Sigonyela confirmed that the province was lagging behind in forming the legislation.

The Western Cape is the only province having passed the act.

Sigonyela said parents were being forced by principals, even at rural schools, to accept English as the home language or language of instruction.

"Principals, who are middle-class and have their children studying at former Model C schools, are elevating the use of English at rural schools to the detriment of children."

Eastern Cape education department language policy manager Naledi Mbudeshale said the act had nothing to do with the department, "but would allow parents to challenge schools".

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Sat May 25 01:48:00 SAST 2013 ::

Oct 8, 2012

Mondi

The ANC likes to change everything that works.
after that nothing works anymore but they always blame apartheid.
maybe its jealous....
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Oct 8, 2012

RobinH

This is an utterly idiotic proposal. What hope in hell will anyone without at least basic English have of ever getting a) tertiary education, b) a job as anything but a petrol attendant or car guard. This approach can only keep Africa in the dark.
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Oct 8, 2012

cornelius

Poor reporting I think they mean it will be compulsory to present IsiXhosa First Additional language for those who want ot do it. In the WC for example, it is not compulsory to take Xhosa, but the schools must present it if there are children who wan to take it.
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Oct 8, 2012

!!!Sinudeity!!!

Sweeet! So I can take any school to court and force them to teach in Afrikaans :P
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Oct 8, 2012

Printa

I dont have words. U stupid Mondi and Robin
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Oct 8, 2012

Mondi

Jaa Printa

If u dont have words then dont speak domkop. Me stupid , u more stupid!! hehehe
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Oct 8, 2012

MissBhakajuju

if you're so serious about isiXhosa from the first place, why send kids to the English/Afrikaans school ????

i attended ModelC because, I didn't have a choice as there was no Xhosa school where I grew up... & I also wanted to learn other Languages, English mostly... that didn't stop me from speaking fluent isiXhosa, I can read & write my home language anytime of the day....

so can xiVhenda speaker, forcefully demand to be taught in Vhenda in a Xhosa school... or is just in an English & Afrikaans school where you can proceed with that ??
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Oct 8, 2012

msizi

This is a good thing because currently children are kind of forced to study English & Afrikaans , if this goes through then a child may have the option to Study english and Venda 4 example, i think this is excellent, But at the same time i think it should be compulsory to study english, it is the universal language after all & the child will find it difficult to function in this world without knowing propoer english
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Oct 9, 2012

RobinH

Printa: I'm so happy that you have an opinion at all. But do I care what it is? NO. A child with no English will have absolutely no future. If that statement is considered stupid by you, well, what does it say about you?
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Oct 9, 2012

THEmadame2B-BBEE

Yeah sure persuading these Model C school to have Vanac is ok, but what will happen if the kids refuse to sign up for the classes
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