Dr Susan Thuketana, Dr Makwalete Malatji, and Mrs Matshediso Lekgetho, accompanied by Brian Madigoe, a fourthyear student in the Department of Early Childhood Education (ECE), gave an outstanding presentation at the University of Pretoria’s Senate Conference recently at Future Africa. The presentation showcased the department’s curriculum transformation initiatives in teaching African languages to Foundation Phase teacher-training students. Initially, the department offered the Literacy Practices (JGL 461) module in Afrikaans to all students, regardless of the community they would serve as in-service teachers. This practice was contrary to the Curriculum Assessment and Policy Statement (CAPS), which states that Foundation Phase learners should be taught in their home languages.

Responding to the transformation agenda at the University, Dr Thuketana, Dr Malatji, and Ms Lekgetho reviewed the ECE programme to align it with the Minimum Requirements for Teacher Education Qualifications (MRTEQ), CAPS (2011), and the University of Pretoria’s Language Policy (2017). The department is offering the teaching of Sepedi, Setswana, and IsiZulu in the JGL 461 module for seven weeks in the first quarter before the students go for teaching practice. However, the initiative is insufficient; hence, the African Languages Committee submitted a proposal for teaching African languages (Sepedi, Setswana, and IsiZulu) from the first year of the programme, starting in 2024. The Teaching and Learning Committee approved the proposal, which awaits further approval from the Senate. Teaching the proposed African languages in the Foundation Phase teacher training programme will skill students to teach at least one home language of choice and a first additional language, including English and Afrikaans, as qualified teachers.