Answer to Question #304205 in English for Accordance

Question

South Africa is a country that is linguistically and culturally diverse. This diversity is enshrined and protected in the Constitution of the country through the Bill of Rights. 7.1 . . . . this, some schools, especially in affluent suburbs and urban townships, continue to promote English mainly or English only language policies. The fact that most assessments are done in English does not help either. In fact, it puts learners from deep rural areas and impoverished township at a disadvantage 7.2 . . . . they do not have the same access to English as their peers in affluent suburbs and urban townships. To address this linguistic injustice, 7.3 . . . . educationists and researchers have called for teacher preparation and continued professional teacher development programmes that expose teachers to social justice issues. 7.4. . . . , other educationists and researchers contend that there is no need for such programmes. This issue remains contentious, leaving one wondering 7.5 . . . . it will ever be resolved.

Answer 1

The cultural and linguistic diversity should be respected even in schools. Learners from across the social divide should be taught the required languages as enshrined in the Constitution. No person, including the State, may unfairly discriminate against anyone on the basis of race, gender, sex, pregnancy, marital status, ethnic or social origin, colour, sexual orientation, age, disability, religion, conscience, belief, culture, language and birth. This is not a closed list of grounds.