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Language Policy
1. Preamble
2. Aims
3. The Protection of Individual Rights
4. Language of Learning & Teaching adn Languages as Subjects
5. Promotion of Home Language
1. Preamble
1.1. This Language Policy Document should be seen as part of a continuous process
that operates within the following praradigm:
1.2. In terms of the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, the Governing Body of
Saxonworld School recognises that our cultural diversity is a valuable national
asset and hence is tasked, amongst other things, to promote multilingualism, the
development of the official languaged, and respect for all languages.
1.3. The inherited policy of saxonwold Primary School was underpinned by racial and
linguistic discrimination. A number of these discriminatory policies have affected
the learners' ability to achieve success.
1.4. This language Policy is concieved of as an integral and necessary aspect of the
Governing Body's role in assisting with the building of a non-racial nation in
South Africa. It is ment to facilitate communication across the barriers of colour,
language and religion, while at the same time create an environment in which
respect for languages other than one's own is encouraged.
1.5. This approach is in line with the fact that both societal and individual
multilingualism is the global norm today, especially on the African continent. Such
as, it assumes that the learning of more than one language should be general
practice and principle in our society. That is to say, being multilingual should be a
defining charateristic of being South Africa. It is contructed also to counter any
particularistic ethic chauvinism or seperation through mutual understanding.
1.6 The underlying principle is to maintain home language(s) while providing access
to and the effective acquisition of additional languages. Hence the Governing
Body's Position that an additive approach to bilingualism is to be seen as the
normal orientation of our language policy.
1.7. The right to choose the language of learning and teaching is vested in the
individual. This right, has however, to be excercised with an understanding that
Saxonwold Primary School has, as its language of learning and teaching (LOL),
chosen English.
1.8. The pardigm also presupposes a more fluid relationship between languages and
culture that is generally understood in the Eurocentric model which we have
inherited in South Africa. It accepts a priori that there is no contradiction in a
multicultural society between a core of common cultural traits, beliefs, practices,
etc., and particular sectional or communal cultures. Indeed, the relationship
between the two can and should be mutually reinforcing and should give rise to
and sustain genuine respect for the variability of the communities that constitute
the Saxonwold Primary community.
2. Aims
Recognising that diversity is a valuable asset, whicg the Governing Body of Saxonwold
Primary School is required to respect, the aim of this language policy is the promotion,
fulfilment and development of language goals in education in compliance with the
Constitution, namley:
2.1. The protection, fulfilment and extention of the indiviual's language rights and
means of communication in education.
2.2. To pursue tha language policy most supportive of general conceptual growth
amongst learners, and hence to establish additive multilingualism as an approach
to language in education.
2.3. To promote and develop as many offivial languages as is practicable.
2.4. To support the teaching and learning of all other languages used by learners in
Saxonwold Primary School, including languages used for religious purposes,
South African Sign Language, as well as Alternative and Augmentative
Communication.
2.5. To counter disadvantages resulting from different kinds of mismatches between
home languages and the language of learning and teaching.
2.6. To develop programmes for the redress of previously disadvantaged learners.
3. The Protection of Individual Rights
3.1. The parent/caregiver exercises the minor learner's language rights on behalf of th
the minor learner.
3.2. If the parent/caregiver chooses English as the language of learning and teaching
and applies to Saxonwold Primary School, and where there is a place available in
the relevant grade, Saxonwold Primary School must admit the learner, provided all
other requirements in terms of the Admissions Policy have been met.
4. Language of Learning and Teaching and Languages as Subjects
4.1. All learners shall learn at least one approved language as a subject in Grade 1 and
Grade 2. At Saxonwold primary School this language is English.
4.2. From Grade 3 onwards, all learners shall learn the language of learning and
teaching (English) and two additional approved languages as subjects. At
Saxonwold Primary School these are isiZulu and Afrikaans.
4.3. All language subjects shall recieve equitable resource allocation.
4.4. The two additional languages shall recieve equitable time allocation. The
promotion requirements and level achievement required for promotion that apply
to language subjects shall be determined by the Gauteng Department of Education.
5. Promotion of Home Language
In keeping with the principle of maintaining home language(s) while providing access
to and the effective acquisition of additional languages, the policy at Saxonwold
Primary School in this regard is:
5.1. To provide time within the curriculum (one period a week) for the promotion of
the learner's home language.
5.2. To assist educators with gaining access to training in the promotion of home
languages.
5.3. To encourage parents/caregivers to assist with the premotion of home language
where pracicable.
6. Conclusion
This language policy is not to be regarded as conclusive, but rather as a Policy Document
that can be amended as the needs of the Saxonwold Primary School community dictates. |
