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Language issue involving Durban High School at Equality Court
17 March 2008
The Pan South African Language Board (PanSALB) will be taking a key interest in the case involving its Chief Executive Officer, Mrs Ntombenhle Nkosi when she appears at Durban's Equality Court on Wednesday, 19 March 2008 to challenge the Durban High School for teaching her son substandard IsiZulu.
This follows a complaint she lodged to the Equality Court on behalf of her son against the school and its governing body in October last year. Mrs Nkosi is arguing that her son, whose mother tongue is IsiZulu, is discriminated against by the school by being taught his language as a second additional language, or third level IsiZulu, which should be offered to non-IsiZulu speakers. This is happening whereas the school is able to offer English and Afrikaans at higher and correct level according to the Department of Education's National Curriculum Statement on languages.
PanSALB perceive the case as being of national importance since it is aimed at addressing the lack of transformation by most former model C schools to alleviate the status of indigenous languages.
We at PanSALB are of the view that the prevalent situation in these former model C schools in which African children are made to leave their African languages at the gates of learning, will not continue unnoticed. Our schools, both public and private, have to create an environment in which our children are made to feel comfortable for who they are in terms of their languages and their cultures. As a democratic country premised on a progressive Constitution, which promotes linguistic diversity, it is wrong to let other citizens be cheerleaders, when others enjoy their freedoms.
A decade into our constitutional democracy, we have to constantly and collectively create a cultural space that is South African. We must take and give from each other on the basis of equality; otherwise, certain languages will remain dominant and privileged.
PanSALB hopes that the outcome of the case will advance constitutionally guaranteed language rights by giving parents and learners the option of exercising their language preference and influencing language policies.
Enquiries:
Sibusiso Nkosi
Cell: 012 341 9638
Cell: 082 855 4436
Issued by: Pan South African Language Board
17 March 2008