Lecturer challenges UCT to publish in local languages
New Sesotho book by Dr Possa-Mogoera addresses teen pregnancy
Dr Rethabile Possa-Mogoera’s passion for indigenous languages has helped birth the first Sesotho book to be published by the University of Cape Town (UCT).
Her book, called Dikeledi ha di wele fatshe (Tears do not fall in vain), is intended for high school learners and it introduces the teaching and learning of indigenous languages using technology.
Dr Possa-Mogoera is a member of the Senate Languages Policy Committee, a senior lecturer at the department of languages literatures and a student registration advisor for the faculty of humanities at UCT.
“Dikeledi ha di wele fatshe is a drama about Mamello, a grade 8 learner who falls pregnant by a grade 12 schoolmate Tatolo. Tatolo accepts responsibility for the pregnancy but his parents deny his involvement,” she said.
“The matter gets complicated between both sets of parents and is taken to the village king for resolution. The king and his kingsmen call Tatolo to question him, in the presence of his father, about the matter and he admits being the father of Mamello’s unborn child.”
Dr Poosa-Mogoera said the book addresses teenage pregnancy and support from the parents, especially fathers.
“It is breaking the stereotype that when a girl child falls pregnant it is the responsibility of the mother only,” she said.
She said she had been working for the department of basic education, screening their anthologies that will be read at schools when she saw a big gap when it comes to addressing issues that affect learners and breaking stereotypes.
“I realised that as an expert in Sesotho, it is my responsibility to stand up and write books. Writing has always been my passion, but I’d write and not publish.
“I am also very passionate about our indigenous languages. I am advocating for the intellectualisation of our indigenous languages in teaching and learning, so I am on a mission to achieve this dream by making sure there is material online that will be accessible to all,” she said
Dr Poosa-Mogoera said she approached institution’s library and challenged to publish indigenous language material too as they deserve the same platform as English materials.
“This had not happened before and they agreed to publish my book, which opened doors for all our indigenous languages to publish on this open source platform so that we can create a big pool of literature that is readily available online,” she said.
Dr Reggie Raju, director of research and learning services at UCT Libraries, said: “UCT’s commitment to the decolonisation of education is expressed in various ways, one of which is via the publishing of indigenous material.
“UCT Libraries, guided by the principles of social justice, developed a continental platform for any academic institution wanting to publish their books or journals. The book, written in Sesotho, is the first indigenous language to be published on this continental platform.”