The Department of Basic Education in South Africa (SA) has launched its first-ever Mother Tongue-Based Bilingual Education assessments for Grade 4 learners.
The initiative aims to strengthen foundational learning, comprehension, and equity by allowing learners to engage with content in their home languages alongside English.
According to the department, the ultimate goal is to improve literacy, numeracy and overall learning outcomes across the system.
Acting Director for Communication and Research, Terence Khala, says the new assessments mark a significant milestone in SA’s education landscape.
“Today the Department of Basic Education has made history with the first writing of Mother Tongue-Based Bilingual Assessments for Grade 4 learners in Natural Science and Technology today, with Mathematics following November 25. Now these assessments mark an important milestone in SA’s ongoing efforts to strengthen foundational learning, improve learner comprehension and build a more equitable and effective education system.”
–SABC/ChannelAfrica–
