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To: Honarable Minister of Basic Education, Angie Motshekga
Teach High School in isiZulu and isiXhosa
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Please allow students in Primary and Secondary School to learn and write exams in all subjects, in isiZulu and isiXhosa, especially Maths and Science.
As per our 2011 census, 22% (11.5 Million) of South Africans speak isiZulu, and 16% (8.1 Million) speak isiXhosa, and yet Maths and Science exams, especially in Matric (Grade 12) can only be written in English and Afrikaans.
If we look at the amount of people who speak isiZulu and isiXhosa, its unfair to make them write in any language except their own.
isiZulu 11,587,374 22.7%
isiXhosa 8,154,258 16.0%
Afrikaans 6,855,082 13.5%
English 4,892,623 9.6%
Sesotho sa Leboa 4,618,576 9.1%
Setswana 4,067,248 8.0%
Sesotho 3,849,563 7.6%
As per our 2011 census, 22% (11.5 Million) of South Africans speak isiZulu, and 16% (8.1 Million) speak isiXhosa, and yet Maths and Science exams, especially in Matric (Grade 12) can only be written in English and Afrikaans.
If we look at the amount of people who speak isiZulu and isiXhosa, its unfair to make them write in any language except their own.
isiZulu 11,587,374 22.7%
isiXhosa 8,154,258 16.0%
Afrikaans 6,855,082 13.5%
English 4,892,623 9.6%
Sesotho sa Leboa 4,618,576 9.1%
Setswana 4,067,248 8.0%
Sesotho 3,849,563 7.6%
Why is this important?
Imagine trying to pass maths or science in French if you can only speak English. You'll fail, as you won't understand the course work, nor understand the questions in the exam. This is exactly how it is for a student who can't speak English or Afrikaans in South Africa. The language divide seriously impedes students from reaching their maximum potential.
