SA's real maths problem is language
Experts agree SA needs the political will to invest in developing the use of African languages in education
Language is an important building block in a child’s identity, but in SA, English dominates the education landscape — even though the government encourages schools to teach pupils in their home languages and to adopt multilingual activities. Less than 10% of the population speaks English as a home language. IsiZulu is spoken by 22.7% of households, followed by isiXhosa at 16% and Afrikaans at 13.5%, according to Statistics SA. The implementation of the government’s language policy is weak and schools — upper quintile and former Model C schools especially — do not adhere to the guidelines, preferring English as their medium of instruction. Using a pupil’s home language promotes a smooth transition between home and school. Children will be more engaged in learning while teachers will have more flexibility, innovation and creativity when planning lessons. Sotho mathematics dictionary author Zulumathabo Zulu says maths education requires a paradigm shift in SA, focusing more on language...
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