Mashatile: Indigenous languages to be introduced in 2 400 public schools
Deputy President Paul Mashatile says the government has plans to introduce indigenous languages at some 2 400 public schools.
Mashatile delivered the keynote address at the official Heritage Day celebrations at the Princess Magogo stadium in Durban on Sunday.
Currently, a large number of the schools in the country still offer a limited number of language choices for pupils, mostly English and Afrikaans.
Mashatile said the government has several projects in the works to promote cultural diversity.
“In light of this pursuit for an inclusive and equitable society, allow me to share some of the sectoral advancements made by the democratic government which include; the implementation of a range of measures to build social cohesion - increasingly introducing indigenous languages in public schools, with over 2 400 targeted in this term of government.
“This aims to foster a greater understanding of different cultures between learners and break down cultural barriers.
“I believe that arts and culture have an important role to play in the social transformation agenda of our country, we must remember that this sector played a key role in the anti-apartheid struggle uniting us under a shared cause, and globally rallying support for the end of an oppressive system anchored in philosophies of racial segregation”.
Mashatile also called on South Africans to unite and safeguard the future of the country.
“As South Africans, we must acknowledge and appreciate what our forebears have done. Still, most importantly, we must reflect on the kind of future that we want to leave for generations to come.
“Our young democracy has many gains, and we are equally aware that we have much to do to achieve a fully democratic, non-racial and non-sexist society, a future that we all dream of and are responsible for making a reality.
“I therefore call upon on all South Africans to not only embrace our culture, heritage and indigenous knowledge, but to also safeguard the interests of the kind of future that we aspire for – a future rooted in democracy, social cohesion, economic prosperity and enhanced unity in our diversity."
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