MEDIA STATEMENT
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
01 FEBRUARY 2023, PRETORIA
PanSALB LAUNCHES LANGUAGE ACTIVISM MONTH CAMPAIGN IN GQEBERHA, EASTERN CAPE
As part of the institution’s efforts to promote the use of mother tongue and the furtherance of multilingualism in South Africa, the Pan South African Language Board (PanSALB) will, this morning, be launching Language Activism Month (February). The three-day launch event that will be conducted at the De Vos Malan Primary School, Reuben Berin School for the Deaf, and the University of Nelson Mandela main campus in Gqeberha, Eastern Cape. The launch kickstarts various activities that will be conducted by the institution throughout the month and will include visits to the St Thomas School for the Deaf in King Williams town, the EFATA School for the Deaf and Blind and the University of Walter Sisulu, in Mthatha, Eastern Cape.
This year’s commemoration is conducted under the theme “Multilingualism Education a necessity to transform Education” as declared by UNESCO.
The month is observed in commemoration of International Mother Language Day (21 February) to raise awareness of the importance of mother tongue use, cultural diversity, and multilingualism around the world. It is estimated that 40% of the population globally does not have access to an education in a language they speak or understand. Subsequently, more focus and emphasis will be placed on advancing the adoption of the Department of Basic Education’s Mother Tongue Based Bilingual Education (MTBBE) programme and fast tracking its roll-out in schools throughout the country.
The month-long activities will culminate in a national event that will be held at The Ranch Resort, outside Polokwane in Limpopo on 20 and 21 February 2023, through a seminar that will delve into the roll-out of the MTBBE programme in the province followed by a celebration on International Mother Language Day. The two-day event will include the launch of 75 schools (25 for each indigenous African languages in Limpopo – Tshivenda, Sesotho sa Leboa and Xitsonga) that are starting the Mother Tongue-Based Bilingual Education system wherein mother tongue is expected to play a crucial role as a language of teaching and learning to ensure the learners’ cognitive development.
The Language Activism Month campaign aims to create awareness of multilingualism as an important educational instrument that adds academic value and also promotes appreciation of cultural awareness and the preservation of indigenous languages.
End
Released on behalf of PanSALB: Ntombentle Huluhulu
Head: Marketing and Communication
Tel : 012 341 9638
Mobile: 061 581 5216
