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This morning, I visited Montevideo Primary School (PS) to attend an isiXhosa lesson for Grade 1’s.

Montevideo PS is one of ten schools in the Province that have volunteered to take part in a pilot which teaches isiXhosa to Grade 1 learners.

The pilot forms part of a national experiment to introduce a second additional language in Grade 1.

Many primary schools already offer isiXhosa as a second additional language, in Grades 4 to 7. The pilot will look at feasibility of introducing a second additional language in Grade 1.

The following ten schools volunteered to participate in the pilot in the Western Cape:

• Metro Central Education District: Zonnebloem Boys’ Primary, Montevideo Primary, Cecil Road Primary and Good Hope Seminary Junior.
• Metro North: Vorentoe Primary, Belhar Primary.
• Metro South: Simon’s Town Primary, West End Primary, Square Hill Primary.

The department considered various factors when identifying schools for the pilot.

They included proximity, (to make it easier for itinerant teachers to visit schools), school performance, ability to cope with the pilot, and the composition of the learner population.

The participating schools have responded enthusiastically to the pilot at all levels. Both I and the Western Cape Education Department (WCED) appreciate their support in the pilot and the support of our project team.

The Western Cape Education Department (WCED) has appointed four teachers for the pilot and will appoint a fifth teacher this week. The teachers appointed are trained isiXhosa teachers and will each visit two or three schools to provide the lessons in Grade 1.

The WCED trained the teachers in March, as part of an induction programme.

The training programme included a training workshop.

The training included national policy on Incremental Implementation of African Languages (IIAL), the teaching programme and lesson plans.

District curriculum advisors for isiXhosa in the Foundation and Intermediate Phases (covering Grades R to 6) also attended the sessions.

WCED officials then introduced the teachers to staff and learners at the participating schools as part of an induction programme.

The Grade 1 teachers concerned are looking forward to learning isiXhosa as well. Workbooks for the pilot will be provided by the Department of Basic Education (DBE).

The WCED is supportive of the pilot. However, any future rollout will be determined at a later stage. We’ll be in a better position to evaluate the programme when it has been running for several months.