| 1.1 |
The Department of Basic Education has issued the Draft Policy on the Incremental Introduction of African Languages (IIAL). This draft policy will be piloted in Grade 1 in 2014 in a selection of schools in all provinces. |
| 1.2 |
The draft policy has 3 aims:
- To promote and strengthen the use of African Languages by all learners in the school system
- To improve proficiency in and utility of African Languages at Home Language level so that learners are able to use their African Home Language proficiently for academic purposes as the language of teaching and learning
- To promote social cohesion
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| 2. |
Implementation of the pilot project in the Western Cape Education Department (WCED) |
| 2.1 |
The WCED will implement the IIAL pilot project in 10 to 20 schools situated in the Metro education districts in 2014. |
| 2.2 |
The schools involved in the project will offer Xhosa First Additional Language in Grade 1. They will, therefore, be schools currently offering the following language options: English Home Language and Afrikaans First Additional Language OR Afrikaans Home Language and English First Additional Language. Thus, the second First Additional Language to be offered will be Xhosa. |
| 2.3 |
The pilot project will run for one year (January to December 2014) and will involve all Grade 1 classes and learners in each of the schools concerned. In September 2014, these schools will be consulted on what they have learned from the project and their plans for 2015 and beyond. |
| 2.4 |
The following resources will be made available in 2014 to all the schools involved:
- The Department of Basic Education will provide FAL Xhosa learner workbooks.
- The WCED will provide itinerant teachers to these schools. Contract posts will be advertised soon in a special vacancy list.
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| 2.5 |
Schools who wish to be considered for the pilot project should, in consultation with their school governing body (SGB) and district office, complete the attached Annexure A form and submit it to the WCED. In considering whether to apply, SGBs must bear in mind the implications for the length of the school day and the timetable, for example, whether to extend school time or use the current time allocation for Grade 1 (23 hours per week). |
| 2.6 |
The completed Annexure A application form must be e-mailed to Phumla.Satyo@westerncape.gov.za by 18 September 2013. Schools will be informed of the outcome of their application by 10 October 2013. |
| 2.7 |
Should a school be accepted for the project, then the parents of new Grade 1 learners to be admitted in 2014 must be informed of this. |
| 3. |
Further enquiries can be directed to Mrs PP Satyo, Acting Chief Director: Curriculum Development, at e-mail address Phumla.Satyo@westerncape.gov.za or telephone number 021 467 2622.
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SIGNED: BK SCHREUDER
DEPUTY DIRECTOR-GENERAL: CURRICULUM AND ASSESSMENT MANAGEMENT
DATE: 2013:09:06
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