The Western Cape education department will take the first steps towards making Xhosa compulsory in all schools across the province.

Learners will be taught in their mother tongue and learn English from Grade R to six. During the senior phase of schooling which is grades seven to nine, Xhosa will be introduced as a third language in the curriculum.

"For example Xhosa-speaking learners would have the option of learning Afrikaans and English-speaking learners would be able to learn Xhosa," said the department of education.

The issue of text books and reading material will be addressed in the coming months.

Paul Colditz, national chairperson of the Federation of Governing Bodies of South African Schools, expressed concern about making a specific language compulsory. He said learners should be given the choice of what language to study rather than a particular language be specified.

"By making a particular language compulsory we are moving back to 1976," Colditz said.

(Source: Cape Argus / 14 August 2005)