Model C schools slammed for ditching African languages

The increasing trend of former Model C schools adopting English as an additional medium of instruction should not be seen as a milestone worth celebrating, but rather as a call to refocus on South Africa’s constitutional commitment to multilingualism, the Pan South African Language Board (PanSALB) has warned, according to Cape Times.

This comes as the Department of Basic Education (DBE) recently briefed Parliament’s portfolio committee on education regarding the progress of the Basic Education Laws Amendment (BELA) regulations. The update included the readiness of provinces for the 2026 academic year, reforms to Grade R and early learning, and the broader transformation of school language and admissions policies.

During the session, Members of Parliament expressed concern over the persistently low number of former Model C schools that have incorporated African languages into their curricula. The committee requested a detailed school-level spreadsheet identifying institutions that remain single-medium and have not introduced African languages, along with explanations provided for this inaction.

In a statement, PanSALB criticised the perception that English is an inherently inclusive language, arguing that its dominance continues to marginalise South Africa’s diverse linguistic communities.

“Framing the introduction of English in Afrikaans schools as an unqualified positive step risks obscuring the deeper linguistic inequities perpetuated by the hegemony of English,” the board said. “The concerns raised by the portfolio committee regarding the slow implementation of language policies, particularly the integration of African languages in former Model C schools, are critical and must be addressed and accelerated by the department.”

PanSALB confirmed that it had submitted recommendations to the DBE to assist with the implementation of the BELA regulations, aiming to ensure that learners who speak previously marginalised languages enjoy equal linguistic rights to those afforded to English and Afrikaans speakers in public schools.

The board also criticised the department for publishing the BELA regulations in only English and Afrikaans, calling it further evidence that African languages remain an afterthought in government and education policy.

“South Africa’s linguistic diversity is a national resource,” PanSALB said. “By prioritising mother-tongue-based bilingual education and ensuring that indigenous languages are fully integrated into former Model C schools, we can build an inclusive education system that genuinely reflects our multilingual society.”

PanSALB concluded by affirming its commitment to monitoring the implementation of the BELA regulations to ensure compliance with the constitutional obligations on language.

IOL