DELMAS – An entourage of leaders and activists have called upon the Department of Education in Mpumalanga to implement the teaching and learning of the Isindebele language in Delmas Primary schools with immediate effect.
This call was made in the meeting held between the Mpumalanga Department of Education and the leaders of various organisations of interest at the Endumbeni Cultural Centre on 4 February. Representing the Department of Education at the discussion were Moses Sibusiso Mnguni, Deputy Director for Infrastructure and ICT, Deputy Director of Education Douglas Metji Maja and Victor Khanye Circuit Manager Thembelihle Ngwenya.
The various organisations’ representatives were Tom Sindane from Isindebele Language Board, Mazunge Mtsweni from Isiyalo Writers Association, Ndzundza-Hlanga Traditional Authority Ikosi Nyanyabo II, chiefs and representatives, Daniel Ntuli, Buti Pietros Gabehla Mahlangu and Suhla Amos Mahlangu, Sipho Mahamba and Ngemani Sbusiso Mahlangu from Endumbeni Cultural and Creative Arts Centre.
According to the traditional leaders representing various organisations in the Nkangala District, the introduction of Isindebele language in the Victor Khanye schools is long overdue and needs to be implemented immediately without fail.
Circuit Manager, Thembelihle Ngwenya, presented the enrolment statistics which indicate the lowest enrolment of two learners in Delpark Primary School and the highest of 20 learners in Rietkol Primary School. A total of 77 learners enrolled across all 23 Primary schools in Victor Khanye Local Municipality. The lowest enrolment is two learners in Delpark. According to the department, at least a minimum of 25 learners in a school is reasonable to commence with the language.
Sipho Mahamba responded, “The different enrolment numbers presented by the department are confusing because one day they would say 15 and the next day 25 and now Jasper Zwane said 40.” The other issue presented by Mahamba was that to their surprise, Mdumiseni Primary School previously had 23 learners enrolled for Isindebele which is strange compared to what the department is presenting now in their statistics which is only three.
Ndabezitha Piet Mahlangu said, “It is becoming apparent that there is a deliberate delay to introduce the language by the department. There are other schools that render languages such as Setswana with about four learners only. So what is different about Isindebele which should actually be prioritized since it is the main language here in Delmas?”
Mahlangu added that they feel undermined by the department after it was agreed last year that the language will be introduced in Primary Schools in Grade 1 as a subject in 2020. According to the representatives, the discussions to introduce Isindebele in schools began in 2016, however, the department of education is stalling the process for piloting the language.
Mtsweni from Isiyalo said in October 2019 they spoke with principals about advocating for Isindebele to take place in schools and some principals were not present in those meetings, which is why there are zero enrolments in their schools and which perpetuates the stigma surrounding the competency of the language.
Maja requested that it should be observed that the process to introduce the language should be a fair and smooth one. He also continued to mention the statistics which the majority of the group disagreed should be a stumbling block to introduce the language in those schools. Maja advised the group that the department will give them a response as soon as they have concluded on a plan of action. It remains to be seen what the plan of action the department will take after the discussions have taken place.
