Statement by Cameron Dugmore, MEC for Education in the Western Cape

Western Cape schools are attending workshops to explore the issues involved in language transformation.

Asked for comment on access to teaching in isiXhosa, Anne Schlebusch, the Western Cape Education Department's (WCED) Senior Planner: Language Transformation, replied:

"The subject isiXhosa is taught at a minority of Western Cape schools only. This is why we have launched our Language Transformation Plan to require of schools to address this situation head on.

"All schools are attending workshops of 3 - 4 hours to explore the issues. See attached copy of the plan. Schools must submit their plans by the end of July so that the WCED can look at them and respond. They will be helped to develop them.

"We are embarking on a massive advocacy programme to mobilise parental support for the plan and to help them familiarise themselves with the issues so that they can make the best choices for their children.

"Lastly, we have received the unsolicited CVs of 200 unemployed teachers of isiXhosa who are graduates with teaching diplomas. This is not enough to fully supply the need but since our plan is for a phased introduction we are confident that our plan will, in fact, prompt more individuals to study to become teachers of isiXhosa and that the system will be able to meet the demand."

* Prepared on request for West CapeNews.

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