Picture of Mphuthumi Ntabeni: Izak de Vries (background photo: https://pixabay.com/photos/hot-air-balloon-lake-balloon-sunset-2411851/)
"Study after study show that children learn quicker in their mother tongue because they already have a deeper conceptual cognisant tool they have been developing since they began perceiving the world."
Angie Motshekga, die minister van basiese onderwys, het onlangs gesê dat landswette en nie beheerliggame nie, die taal- en toelatingsbeleid en gedragskodes by ’n skool behoort te bepaal. Sy het dit na aanleiding van die Konsepwysigingswetsontwerp op Onderwyswette (BELAB) gesê, ’n wetsontwerp wat op die oomblik deur die proses van openbare kommentaar in die parlement gaan.
Naomi Meyer het ’n paar mense gevra om te skryf oor ’n wêreld waar onderrig in die taal wat die kinders by die huis praat, sou kon plaasvind.
Following the Draft Amendment Bill on Education Laws (BELAB), a bill which is currently going through the process of public comment in parliament, Angie Motshekga, minister of basic education, recently said that national laws and not governing bodies should determine the language and admission policy and codes of conduct at a school.
Naomi Meyer asked a few people to write about a world where children are educated in the language they speak at home.
Emva koqulunqo lomthetho osaqulunqwayo wemithetho yezemfundo (i-BELAB), umthetho oyilwayo okungoku nje uqhuba inkqubo yokuvakalisa izimvo zoluntu epalamente, umphathiswa wemfundo esisiseko uAngie Motshekga, kutshanje uthe imithetho yelizwe hayi izigqeba ezilawulayo kufuneka zimisele ulwimi nokwamkelwa kwabafundi. umgaqo-nkqubo kunye neendlela zokuziphatha esikolweni.
Naomi Meyer ucele abantu abambalwa ukuba bathi gqaba-gqaba ngezavenge kwabantwana ngelwimi labu lesuntu.
Mphuthumi Ntabeni, author, architect:
Ukufunda ngelwimi lakhe lwemveli limenza umfundi anqakule msinyane, kwaye azive enegugu nomdla kulento ayifundiswayo.
Learning in their mother tongue or vernicular makes a pupil sharp in absorbing the lesson, it also entices their sense of pride in the their own identity.
Study after study show that children learn quicker in their mother tongue because they already have a deeper conceptual cognisant tool they have been developing since they began perceiving the world.
Language as a way of perceiving the world begins with sound perception for children during gestation. That is where they start learning certain vibrations and words solicit fear or feelings of love in their mothers, and so begin to learn that. It is what after they're born we turn to think it is instinctive on babies. Learning is also genetic, atmospheric and conditioning. Hence cultural background is also imperative in understanding languages. A child who learns in a strange language is at the double disadvantage because they first have to learn the conceptual tools of that other language from scratch. Then they have to relate it to their own cultural background if it is to enhance the sense of their own identity, thus promote their confidence and sense of self, all things crucial for learning. For instance, they often say it is almost impossible to learn the KhoiSan/Xhosa clicks after nine years of age because your brain has developed into instinctual habit the habits, mores cognisant linguistic tools of your own culture/language.
Also read | Lees ook:
BAQONDE and multilingual education in South Africa: An interview with Lorna Carson
BAQONDE, boosting the use of African language in education: an interview with Bassey Antia
The Basic Education Laws Amendment Bill (BELAB): what parents should know
Persverklaring: Onderwysverklaring na aanleiding van Wysigingswetsontwerp op basiese onderwys
Herinneringe aan my onderwysloopbaan – en my pad met die onderrig van Afrikaans
Afrikaans en Kaaps op skool: Faeed Amardien se pad met die onderwys