Mother-tongue learning ‘may negatively affect’ pupils in future
Local education expert Professor Vimolan Mudaly believes while there may be benefits, mother-tongue instruction may negatively impact pupils in the long run.
"Going into university might pose a slight problem in that it restricts the students from being exposed to other good academics who can come from overseas, other provinces and who cannot speak the local language.
"It will restrict children to knowing just the language. At universities, we have experiences of students who struggle with the language, and they only have textbooks in use, for example."
Earlier this week, the Basic Education Minister told a bilingual education meeting in Bloemfontein that children need to be taught in their home language to thrive in the education system.
READ: Solidarity: Govt ‘underestimating strength of opposition to BELA Bill in Afrikaans community
Mudaly believes this approach might limit a child's opportunities.
"If we go with a language that they are familiar with, then all we are doing is we are restricting the child to remain in the areas in which that language prevails. How will a child who excels in mathematics and science and does well in university, what opportunities will that child have for going to NASA?"
Last year, the International Reading Literacy Study revealed that over 80% of Grade 4 pupils in South Africa could not read for meaning in any language.
Find us on social media
Follow the ECR Newswatch WhatsApp channel here
