Mother tongue makes sense for kids

‘TO only speak English is to live in darkness in your own land” and “Xhosa instruction reaps big rewards in Eastern Cape” (May 17) refers.

We are expecting learners to be educated in a language that they do not fully understand, whether it is English or Afrikaans. There is so much meaning being lost between teachers and learners that we should not be surprised that our education system seems poor. And we are talking about learners from the poorest illiterate homes, where many parents also received patchy schooling during apartheid.

I understand that parents think fluency in English will open doors for their children, but being able to speak English fluently is much easier than learning complex subjects in English or Afrikaans. I doubt whether our top performers would be able to do well if they had to write all their exams in another language, even if they could speak it fairly well. Often the questions are misunderstood and the answers take much longer to be written.

It is good news indeed that a pilot project is being conducted in Cofimvaba, enabling learners to learn maths, natural science and technology in Xhosa. Their marks have improved amazingly. Who is surprised?

English is a complex and complicated language. Of course all children should learn English for their own good, but please allow them to be educated in their mother tongue. It is the language of thought and understanding.

For the past four years I have been teaching preschool children to learn word-building phonetically, and the Xhosa children are able to do it better than their English and Afrikaans friends. I have no doubt they will be able to transfer to another language later on, as they have already experienced and mastered the richness of their own mother tongue. — Lesley Satchel, Knysna

What about Khoi and San?

IT is with sadness that one hears that Nguni languages are going to be compulsory in our schools, yet the true indigenous language of the first nation, the Khoi and San, is not even given a look-in. — Ronnie Swartz, Durban

Pedi at home, naturally

MY two toddler boys speak fluent Pedi and most of my friends’ children speak only English. My friends consider this to mean their children are more intelligent. I just laugh. My five-year-old can converse in English but we use Pedi at home. It feels normal and natural. The elders back in Limpopo are able to communicate with my boys when we visit. — Kono Mathole, by e-mail

Zulu lessons for the family

I AM proud to boast that both my grown-up sons are taking extramural Zulu lessons, but I think you just might have motivated their 63-yearold Afrikaans mom to join them for their hour-long Zulu lesson. — Mathilda, by SMS

Condoms where necessary

“GOVERNMENT plans to give condoms to 10-year-olds” (May 10), refers. The plan is more about providing access to preventative measures for young people who are sexually active than merely giving condoms to 10-year-olds.

The plan aims to provide learners with a comprehensive package of sexual and reproductive health services and information.

Schools are not forced to issue condoms on their premises; rather, they are given the option to opt out if the school community makes a compelling case.

According to the World Health Organisation’s report of 2013, an estimated 2.1 million adolescents between the ages of 10 and 19 years of age are living with HIV. The UN Population Fund indicated that 40% of new HIV infections worldwide since the onset of the epidemic are among people aged between 15 and 24.

The implementation of comprehensive sexuality education has always been limited by our inability to provide actual services that enable young people to make the choices they would be presented with.

Referrals are not always followed through and services for young people are sometimes inaccessible. The provision of condoms and sexual reproductive health services in schools will go a long way to close this gap. — Nditsheni Mungoni, loveLife

Elbow grease v palm grease

“OLD SA’s man of steel can be model for new tycoons” (May 17) refers. Congratulations to Mr Sipho Nkosi. Passion and hard work are all that is needed for business, not deployment of comrades into positions that they will be unable to execute. — T Maope, by SMS

Spreading the joy

HOGARTH (May 17) refers. Ubulungu means both membership and whiteness in Xhosa. So it is not only in Zulu that the ironical DA card translation will cause sniggers: the Xhosas will also have a good laugh over it. — N Songo, East London

Mind the poverty gap

HOW is it that a teacher at a derelict school in the Willowvale district can be so desperate as to say things were better in the old days? Then, she said, they at least had blackboards, chalk and desks.

The answer is to be found in the article “Where kids still go to school in a mud cow shed” (May 17). A helicopter carrying VIP guests to the coronation of the new Xhosa chief flew overhead at the same time the reporter was on site.

It is a fact that there is a huge gap between the rich and the poor in South Africa and we can blame apartheid. But what is being done about closing that gap? — Ian Pringle, Port Elizabeth

Reeva: let go of the anger

“OSCAR must stay in jail, says Reeva’s mother” (May 17) refers.

Mandela always spoke about the spirit of forgiveness to the white people, who did more evil things to blacks.

I have been thinking that some miracle can make anger disappear in our lives. When you build a shelter for the offended, you teach them how to forgive. You teach them how to recompose themselves and face the world with a good heart. Anger makes you do things you may regret at a later stage.

Let us try to control our emotions and build a better society and not show grudges towards others. Let us learn to be good examples and not perpetrate violence in our society. Everyone in this world has lost a loved one but that does not mean for every occasion, we must retaliate. — Sikhulisele G, by e-mail

Much value in a family

MY thoughts on Wilmot James’s “Family values often antithesis of liberalism” (May 17): a good supporting family is the best launching pad for a balanced and successful adult life.

Most people need to feel that they matter to somebody else, or some others, who in turn mean something to them. But we know that not all families are ideal. Some parents are absent, some are too busy with their own affairs to have much time for their children, some are drunken and abusive. That does not mean that the system is wrong.

The secret is that children should all be able to feel they are loved by, and matter to, each other. And this will bring out the best in each of them.

As far as freedom to be yourself is concerned, all families should encourage their young members to become independent and make their own way in the world when the time comes — which they are able to do successfully from a good home base. — Pam Harper, Hout Bay

Is Zuma sleeping at night?

“THE sky’s the limit as chartered jets boost Zuma’s Moscow travel bill” (May 17) refers.

Bureaucratic bungling coupled with the hire of three luxury jets to have President Jacob Zuma and his entourage returned to our shores will no doubt compromise the electorate at large, as millions will have been expended on this grandiosity.

Was it not the very same Zuma who could “not sleep at night” after witnessing rampant poverty a few years back? It is a travesty that, in a country where most people barely eke out a living, its leadership’s rampant opulence deprives them of very basic facilities and support. — Narendh Ganesh, Durban North

Chiefs, help fan’s family

ACCORDING to “Come on Chiefs, show some decency” (May 17), Chiefs spokesman Vini Maphosa told the Sowetan that the Chiefs were not legally obliged to financially support Mbeje’s funeral.

Mr Kaizer Motaung, Ntandazo Mbeje was among those fans supporting your team at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium, and was killed by a stray bullet in his excitement after the final whistle went off.

I was there. I saw it all. Now his mother can’t afford to bury him. Won’t you please assist? — Thembalethu Mana, Port Elizabeth

Criminals also read papers

REGARDING “‘It’s too easy to be a rand millionaire’ ” (May 17), it is foolish of Shameen Chetty of Umhlanga to flaunt her wealth in a country known for its high levels of crime. By advertising her wealth she may be placing her family in danger. She foolishly allows herself to be photographed with her Porsche in front of her home. Does she not realise that criminals also read the Sunday Times? — Mike Reddy, Tongaat

Strange state of mind

“EUROPE’S newest ‘state’ declared” (May 17) refers. I cannot fathom how about 5 000 people live, work, farm, manufacture and study in “a tiny 100m² stretch of infertile land”. Is this a joke? — Logan Govender, Verulam

Black language -- or African?

IN the editorial “To succeed, noble plan needs teachers” (May 17), you refer to “indigenous black languages” and I immediately switched off.

What is a black language? Which other colour languages do we have? Why is it difficult to accord anything African the right to be called African? These are African languages, as in Asian and European languages!

HF Verwoerd and his race ideology really damaged South Africans. — Thobeka Mda, by e-mail