Plan to teach Nama in N Cape schools
WHILE not one of South Africa’s eleven official languages, the Northern Cape Department of Education is currently “exploring all avenues” for the introduction of the Nama language in at least two schools in the Province for the 2018 academic year.
The department said yesterday that it had presented an implementation plan at the Pan South African Language Board (PanSALB) conference, which was recently held in Bloemfontein.
“PanSALB has indicated its willingness to partner with the Department of Education in this venture. The Northern Cape provincial government’s twinning agreement with the Namibia ||Kharas region is central to our plans to preserve our rich heritage and culture in the Province,” department spokesperson, Geoffrey van der Merwe, said yesterday.
He added that preparatory work had already commenced in both identified communities, namely Riemvasmaak and Khuboes, with community development committees established in these towns.
“These are the two areas where Nama speakers are most prominent in our Province. As part of the twinning agreement, a Namibian delegation visited these towns in May to create awareness and to sensitise the communities on Nama, through song, dance, poetry and educational information sessions on the history of Nama,” said Van der Merwe.
“A delegation from the Department of Education, accompanied by the community development committees of Riemvasmaak and Khuboes, conducted a visit to Namibia from July 3 to 7 this year as part of a study tour and a Nama language development workshop in Keetmanshoop. They visited the University of Namibia as well as primary and high schools to experience how Nama is taught in Namibia and to familiarise themselves with the learning and teaching support material utilised in schools.”
Van der Merwe added that although Nama is not one of the 11 official languages in South Africa, it formed part of the department’s programmes aimed at social cohesion and nation building.
“The implementation of this programme will depend on the support offered by our stakeholders, who we will be engaging with in the months to come to ensure that this becomes a reality.”