Jansen wrong about English as language of instruction
As an educationalist, prof. Jonathan Jansen is wrong when he argues that all schooling in South Africa should take place in English. He is confusing healthy education principles with his own hidden nation building recipe.
English is a subject which should be compulsory for all South African children even up to university level. It is however something totally different to make English a compulsory language of instruction.
Educational research from all over the world confirms that teaching in a child's mother tongue is the best for transferring knowledge. Children who acquired a second or even third language such as English, by way of their mother tongue, are better in English than children who have always been taught in a second language.
Prof. Jansen is therefore making a mistake when he argues that children should be taught in English from the first day of school in order for them to master English. The Mathematics and Science results of children who were taught in their mother tongue, for example in Afrikaans, are significantly better than the results of children who were taught these subjects in a medium which was their second or third language.
He is however correct when he argues that teaching in some African languages currently is poor. The answer is to improve this teaching. Prof. Jansen's solution is to place further obstacles in these children's way by forcing them to learn difficult subjects, such as Mathematics, through their second or third language.
Prof. Jansen is actually arguing about what he considers to be the best recipe for reconciliation or nation building. Then he wrongly ends with English as language of instruction. Nation building and reconciliation are actually promoted when everyone's human dignity and worthiness is acknowledged. An important part of my humanity and dignity is precisely the recognition of my mother tongue, regardless of whether it is Venda, Afrikaans or English.
Statement issued by Dr. Pieter Mulder, FF Plus leader, October 2 2013
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