Canaan Mdletshe
Canaan Mdletshe
The Durban equality court yesterday postponed the language transformation case involving a Model C school.
The case was taken to the court by a KwaZulu-Natal parent, Ntombenhle Nkosi, against the Durban Boys High School and its governing body.
Nkosi, a Pan South African Language Board (PanSALB) chief executive, lodged the complaint on behalf of her son in October last year.
She argued that the school was discriminating against her son by teaching his mother tongue, isiZulu, as a second additional language or third level isiZulu, which should be offered to non-isiZulu speakers.
"It deeply touched me when my son's results indicated that he was taught isiZulu as an additional language and not as a mother tongue.
"This was against the department of education's national statement, which insists that children have the right to be taught their mother tongues at a high level," she said yesterday.
The court postponed the case to June 25 for both parties to be informed of the exact charges.
Reggie Khumalo, a language and cultural expert, described Nkosi's move as a step in the right direction.
He says the challenge will open doors for other children who are being taught second-hand isiZulu.
"Our children, especially those in Model C schools, hardly speak proper mother tongue language because of the poison they are fed in those schools.
"I hope the ruling in this case will set a precedent," said the cultural expert.
'raise level of isizulu'
Canaan Mdletshe
Canaan Mdletshe
The Durban equality court yesterday postponed the language transformation case involving a Model C school.
The case was taken to the court by a KwaZulu-Natal parent, Ntombenhle Nkosi, against the Durban Boys High School and its governing body.
Nkosi, a Pan South African Language Board (PanSALB) chief executive, lodged the complaint on behalf of her son in October last year.
She argued that the school was discriminating against her son by teaching his mother tongue, isiZulu, as a second additional language or third level isiZulu, which should be offered to non-isiZulu speakers.
"It deeply touched me when my son's results indicated that he was taught isiZulu as an additional language and not as a mother tongue.
"This was against the department of education's national statement, which insists that children have the right to be taught their mother tongues at a high level," she said yesterday.
The court postponed the case to June 25 for both parties to be informed of the exact charges.
Reggie Khumalo, a language and cultural expert, described Nkosi's move as a step in the right direction.
He says the challenge will open doors for other children who are being taught second-hand isiZulu.
"Our children, especially those in Model C schools, hardly speak proper mother tongue language because of the poison they are fed in those schools.
"I hope the ruling in this case will set a precedent," said the cultural expert.