Mandarin still on cards for SA pupils

While the South African Democratic Teachers’ Union is strongly opposing the introduction of Mandarin in schools, more than 130 pupils in the Eastern Cape have already shown an interest in studying the language.

They form part of 1000 pupils from the Western Cape, Gauteng and KwaZulu-Natal who will be taught Mandarin.

This was revealed by Basic Education Minister Angie Motshekga, while responding to written questions from the opposition in parliament recently.

Last year, when Motshekga initially announced that Mandarin would be offered in schools this year, Sadtu vowed to oppose the move.

Yesterday, Sadtu provincial administrator Chris Mdingi reiterated their stance.

“Those who are willing to learn, we cannot hold them back. It will be unreasonable for us to say no one must learn .

“What we are saying it must not be imposed our schools and our children and no teacher must be compelled to teach that language.

“This has far-reaching implications in terms of imperialism in another form.”

Mdingi said it was “clear that Motshekga had not done a comparative study” to find out how the introduction of a foreign language to schools had impacted other countries.

“Unfortunately, or fortunately, we speak about this the day after June 16 commemoration, which is a result of the imposition of Afrikaans to pupils and teachers ... I believe she was a student at the time and knows the feeling of a language imposed on them.”

In parliament, Motshekga did not provide details of how many teachers would be trained or the names of the schools which would be offering the language.

“The current statistics are tentative and will be reviewed during the survey that will be conducted by the DBE, in collaboration with the Chinese advisor.”

“The selection of schools is on a voluntary basis. Hence it is not envisaged that there will be refusal from schools to participate,” Motshekga said.

She said there were no studies conducted as yet, but her department was working with a Chinese advisor to conduct a survey on the need for Mandarin in schools.

Motshekga said the Chinese government would provide resources for the training of teachers but no budget had been allocated for the initiative.

DBE spokesman Elijah Mhlanga said the department would be able to respond to questions on Monday next week.

Eastern Cape education portfolio committee chairman Fundile Gade said it was unavoidable to have Mandarin in schools.

“The Chinese community is a major stakeholder in the economic development of the country ... therefore the interfacing of the African population with the Chinese community is paramount.”

He, however, said the move should not undermine the introduction of African languages in schools. — msindisif@dispatch.co.za