No child should struggle under the weight of language barriers. The expansion of bilingual education is helping learners build strong foundations in the language they understand best. Picture Credit: YPLEngage
By Aisha Zardad
South Africa – As South Africa marks International Mother Language Day, the Department of Basic Education says it has made steady progress in expanding mother-tongue-based bilingual education (MTbBE) across the country.
The programme was first piloted in the Eastern Cape in 2012. Since the rollout, learners receiving instruction in their mother tongue have recorded stronger comprehension levels and higher performance in mathematics and natural sciences.
According to the department, the results confirm what research and communities have long maintained — children learn more effectively when taught in their mother tongue.
For years, most learners were required to transition to English or Afrikaans as languages of teaching and learning at an early stage, often before fully grasping foundational concepts. The department said “For many years, most learners in South Africa were required to switch too early to English or Afrikaans as languages of teaching and learning, often before they fully understood basic concepts,”
In 2025, a historic shift saw Grade 4 learners sit for their mathematics exams in their home languages for the first time through a bilingual examination model — a move described by the department as a significant stride towards educational equity.
The provinces participated as follows:
- Eastern Cape: Afrikaans, IsiXhosa and Sesotho
- Free State: Afrikaans, IsiXhosa, IsiZulu, Sepedi, Sesotho, Xitsonga and Setswana
- Gauteng: Afrikaans, IsiNdebele, IsiXhosa, IsiZulu, Sepedi, Sesotho, Setswana, Siswati, Tshivenda and Xitsonga
- KwaZulu-Natal: Afrikaans, IsiXhosa, IsiZulu and Sesotho
- Limpopo: IsiNdebele, Tshivenda, IsiZulu, Sepedi, Setswana and Xitsonga
- Mpumalanga: Afrikaans, IsiNdebele, IsiXhosa, IsiZulu, Sepedi, Sesotho, Setswana, Siswati and Xitsonga
- Northern Cape: Afrikaans, IsiXhosa, Sesotho and Setswana
- North West: Afrikaans, IsiXhosa, Sesotho and Setswana
- Western Cape: Afrikaans, IsiXhosa and Sesotho
The department said the expansion marks a turning point in transforming the education system and restoring the status and dignity of African languages.
It added that the MTbBE programme will continue to grow, allowing learners to remain in their home language for longer while gradually strengthening proficiency in English and other languages.
“Mother tongue is not a barrier to success,” the department said. “It strengthens critical thinking, improves performance in subjects such as mathematics and science, and supports better long-term academic outcomes.”
