By Emily Setona
QWAQWA – Mamatshediso Nakeli from Mphatlalatsane, whose Grade 4 son attends Matsieng Primary School, expressed her support for the new mother tongue-based bilingual education initiative, saying it will help children who struggle to understand lessons in English from their earliest school years.
She said this during the launch of this program by the Free State Department of Education on 30 June 2025 at Tharollo Primary School in Bluegumbosch. “I am very happy about what I saw today,” said Nakeli.
“Our children have been struggling because they are taught and tested in English from the beginning, even though many don’t understand it well. This program will help them learn better and feel more confident.” Chairperson of the Provincial School Governing Body (SGB), Konstable Selebedi, emphasized that SGBs have a critical role to play in ensuring the program succeeds by recommending qualified educators.
“We, as SGBs, have the power to influence the curriculum at the schools we serve. It’s our responsibility to ensure that only properly qualified teachers are appointed to teach in our children’s mother tongue,” Selebedi said.“
Language is not easy to teach—it requires both skill and understanding. We must restore respect for the teaching profession by making sure we hire educators who are trained to teach subjects in our own languages. We commend the MEC for launching this program here, in a place rich with tradition and heritage. She is paving the way for future generations to be taught all subjects in their mother tongue.”
The Mother Tongue-Based Bilingual Education (MTbBE) program will see learners in Grades 1 to 4 taught in their home languages. The goal is to improve comprehension and learning outcomes in critical subjects like mathematics and science by using the language children speak and understand best.
Free State MEC for Education Julia Maboya said the aim is to ensure that children develop strong foundations in their own language before transitioning to English. “English is a subject—something that learners can learn while being taught in their mother tongue,” said Maboya.
“From Grades 1 to 4, children will be taught in their home language. We hope to extend this to Grade 6 because current data shows that many learners struggle in Grade 4 when the medium of instruction abruptly changes to English.”
The initiative, supported by the Department of Basic Education, is part of a national effort to improve early literacy and reduce learning barriers caused by early instruction in a second language. Research shows that children learn more effectively in their home language in the foundation phase and are more likely to succeed academically.
Traditional leaders also endorsed the launch. Principal Chief Morena e Moholo Moremoholo Mopeli of the Bakoena royal household said the move goes beyond improving education—it helps preserve identity. “Language is not just about speaking—it carries the spirit of a people,” said Mopeli.
“When we teach our children in their mother tongue, we preserve more than words. We preserve our cultural identity, our history, and our intellectual heritage.”
