FOREIGN LANGUAGE SPEAKERS HOPELESS IN SISWATI SUBJECT

MBABANE – While certain quarters applauded government for making SiSwati a core subject, some schools are failing to cope.

Some head teachers suggested that a syllabus for the non-SiSwati speaking pupils should be created as some of them were dismally failing the subject.
Following the Ministry of Education and Training’s implementation of Circular No. 12, which made the subject compulsory in the country, some schools are finding it very hard to teach.
Deputy Head teacher at St Mark’s High School Winile Dlamini, said they started the subject this year.

Dlamini said they had pupils from various countries at the school, making it impossible for them to learn.
Most difficult with SiSwati was the fact that all the pupils have to do the same syllabus as everybody else.
“Predominantly, we have a majority of pupils from Mozambique, who are Portuguese and Shangaan speaking and struggle to learn English which is offered as a third language to them and is a problem on its own,” said Dlamini.
With other subjects such as French, there are introductory lessons which then gradually upgrade to intermediary studies.

Dlamini said now that the SiSwati Language had been added as a fourth language for the foreign pupils, it had become worse.
Dlamini said she was not sure how they would manage but since it was a mandate from government, they had to oblige.

According to Dlamini, even the English Language that has to become a medium of communication and writing, was difficult for some of the foreign pupils who speak Portuguese.
“We try as much as possible to also give them extra lessons in English but now a totally new language is being introduced to them again, it will be a hassle,” Dlamini said.
She said with French, it was much better as it was closer to Portuguese.

Further, she said even the Swazi pupils, had a serious challenge learning the SiSwati Language, mainly because in primary school they learnt French.
Dlamini said when evaluating their Grade VII results, even the brilliant pupils did not do well in SiSwati.

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