South Africa: The KwaZulu-Natal Department of Education hosted the Mother Tongue Based Bilingual Education Advocacy Campaign Program. The aim of the event is to task youngsters to protect the indigenous languages of their communities. The event was hosted in in partnership with the Department of Basic Education (DBE) at Brackenham Primary School.
The department stakeholders took the initiative to shared the glimpses from the event on their official social media page. The aim of the programme hosted on Thursday was to highlight the significance of preserving the mother tongues of the people.
In many communities across the globe, the indigenous languages of the communities are dying out as a result of westernization. The Department of Education in KwaZulu-Natal accordingly convened a meeting to educate the people on the importance of preserving their languages.
The event was attended by several crucial members of the department of education and other education stakeholders of the country. At the beginning of the programme, Program Director, the DDG: Curriculum Management and Delivery, Mbongiseni Mazibuko, welcomed all attendees.
Some of the important guests present at the event include: The Head of Department, Nkosinathi Ngcobo and the DBE officials.
The KwaZulu-Natal Department of Education’s HOD, Nkosinathi Ngcobo delivered an address at the event. In line with the Mother Tongue Based Bilingual Education Advocacy Campaign Program. He discussed about the importance of preserving indigenous languages.
“It is beneficial to our learners to be bilingual and maintain the correct use of mother tongue.” Said the Head of Department. The attendants expressed that they were delighted to be a part of the effort to protect and preserve the indigenous languages of the KZN communities.
We are pleased that these advocacy programs are being rolled out to all Districts in the Province of KwaZulu-Natal”, remarked HOD Nkosinathi Ngcobo.
Three Districts were in attendance, namely, UMkhanyakude, Zululand and King Cetshwayo Districts, led by their respective District Directors, District MANCO Members, School Principals and Teachers.
The DBE delegation led by DDG, Dr Naledi Mdude Mebana presented the Legislative Framework in support of the advocacy for Mother Tongue Based Bilingual Education.