‘Exploding’ with emotion after CHS visit
Maluti educators listening carefully to the presentations
Academics from the Department of African Languages in the College of Human Sciences recently met with Eastern
Cape educators in the Mount Fletcher and Maluti districts as part of their community engagement project, Adoption
and Visitation of Schools in Mpumalanga Region and Gauteng.
The project, said Dr Rosalia Moroesi Nakin, coordinator of community engagement in the Department
said Dr Rosalia Moroesi Nakin, coordinator of community engagement in the Department of African languages, aims
at empowering both educators and learners around issues of literature and linguistics in African languages. The nine
African languages offered in the department are covered to improve the quality of results in African languages.
“The project is twofold: it addresses both the General Education and Training (ET) and Further Education and
Training (FET) bands. This project will raise awareness, add value to African languages, inculcate the culture of
reading in African languages from a tender age and introduce children’s literature (all forms of genres). The project
will also serve as a marketing tool for all African languages. Model C schools will also be included.”
Nakin says the project is in alignment with the Department of Basic Education in introducing African languages at
tertiary level. “Each language will be presented in the project. The Department of Basic Education has released the
Incremental Introduction of African Languages policy for public comment. The aim of the project talks to the college
vision and Unisa at large. We strive for excellence in teaching and learning, research and community engagement so
that together make a positive difference in the lives of the individuals and communities we serve.”
At the two-day session in the Eastern Cape, the objectives of the programme were introduced to educators together
with a motivational talk on the value of African languages. Professor Tom Sengani presented on the importance of
applying African languages in various aspects of life; for example, having debates in African languages, or hosting
beauty contests in which learners compete in their traditional outfits.
He also discussed how Afrikaans was developed, as well as which principles could be used to develop African
languages. Languages could be used in all subject areas such as in environment linguistics, economics, names of
places, and to describe the environment, among others. Educators who attended said that his talk brought back hope
and gave courage to educators who had lost faith in the teaching of their African languages.
Professor Dave Mutasa reflected on the importance of protecting African languages and encouraged educators to
use these languages at home. He told educators that some people become passionate and “explode” with emotion
when they talk about their languages. He also encouraged educators to learn other languages.
As a former teacher before joining Unisa, Johanna Nurse Malobola-Ndlovu was able to relate to the experiences of
the educators. She told the educators that resignation out of frustration will not help them; they have to hang in there,
as there is a light at the end of the tunnel. After her presentation she was thanked immensely for her motivation,
specifically by the elderly educators.
Dr Elias Mandinda Mabuza explained the purpose of the project and how Unisa has moved from the proverbial “top of
the mountain” to visit educational communities. He spoke about his own educational journey in his studies, which
triggered interest from educators who thought that the African languages do not have educational value anymore. He
also presented on the impact that the project has had on educators in Mpumalanga.
Dr Dumisani Godfrey Spofana encouraged educators to use their languages without fear. He won the confidence of
the educators in analysing the literature for them. He gave well informed advice on assisting Grade 12 students
during their examinations. And thanks to Spofana, NN Mkuzo, Chief Education Specialist, will be registering with
Unisa for his doctoral degree.
Prof. Tom Sengani, Dr Levina Kock, and Remah Joyce Lubambo from the Department of African Languages in the
office of the District Director: Maluti
Dr Levina Kock helped Basotho educators with the analysis of literature and gave educators some prepared notes on
the analysis of Grade 12 prescribed poems that appeared in some previous exam papers while Ogodiseng Joseph
Mokakale supported the Basotho educators and warned them about the monster that is CAPS. In addition, Nakin
assisted the educators in analysing certain aspects of literature while Cordelia Khoza made the educators recognise
the importance of learning and know about other cultures
Nakin adds that educators in both districts showed interest in the project, confirming that they gained confidence in
the teaching of African languages as they normally feel undermined in most instances in the teaching environment.
“We are looking forward to more workshops, where we can have a similar impact,” she says.
*By Rivonia Naidu-Hoffmeester
Maluti 1:
Maluti 2:
Mt Fletcher: