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South African teachers oppose plan to offer Mandarin lessons from age nine South African teachers oppose plan to offer Mandarin lessons from age nine
(35 minutes later)
A teachers union in South Africa has accused the government of surrendering to Chinese imperialism after it emerged that nine-year-olds are to be offered Mandarin lessons.A teachers union in South Africa has accused the government of surrendering to Chinese imperialism after it emerged that nine-year-olds are to be offered Mandarin lessons.
The Department of Basic Education said that from January 2016 Mandarin would be offered at grade 4 as an additional optional language along with German, Serbian, Italian, Latin, Portuguese, Spanish, Tamil, Telegu and Urdu. The Department of Basic Education said that from January 2016, Mandarin would be offered at grade 4 as an additional optional language along with German, Serbian, Italian, Latin, Portuguese, Spanish, Tamil, Telegu and Urdu.
The South African Democratic Teachers’ Union general secretary, Mugwena Maluleke, vowed earlier this year to oppose the teaching of Mandarin in schools. “As much as during colonisation some people were complicit in selling our souls, that’s what’s happening [again now], he said. “We’re going to make sure that we’ve got serious campaigns against this particular colonisation. We see it as the worst form of imperialism that is going to happen in Africa.” The South African Democratic Teachers’ Union general secretary, Mugwena Maluleke, vowed earlier this year to oppose the teaching of Mandarin in schools. “As much as during colonisation some people were complicit in selling our souls, that’s what’s happening [again now],” he said. “We’re going to make sure that we’ve got serious campaigns against this particular colonisation. We see it as the worst form of imperialism that is going to happen in Africa.”
When the Mail & Guardian newspaper on Tuesday showed Maluleke an official circular announcing that the “rollout of Mandarin [would] be incrementally implemented”, he told the paper: “This we’re going to oppose. In actual fact, tonight we’ll send an SMS to all our teachers to say you must reject it with the contempt it deserves.” When the Mail & Guardian newspaper on Tuesday showed Maluleke an official circular announcing that the “rollout of Mandarin [would] be incrementally implemented,” he told the paper: “This we’re going to oppose. In actual fact, tonight we’ll send an SMS to all our teachers to say you must reject it with the contempt it deserves.”
The government first announced plans for teaching Mandarin last year after the signing of various bilateral agreements between South Africa and China. It says Beijing is offering support in teacher training.The government first announced plans for teaching Mandarin last year after the signing of various bilateral agreements between South Africa and China. It says Beijing is offering support in teacher training.
Maluleke said: “We’re not having a problem with the Chinese or their language. We have bilateral agreements with them and we’re in Brics. We have no problem with that. The issue is what’s in for these officials and these politicians.” Maluleke said: “We’re not having a problem with the Chinese or their language. We have bilateral agreements with them and we’re in Brics. We have no problem with that. The issue is what’s in it for these officials and these politicians.”
Critics have said South Africa risks yielding too much economic and political influence to China, its biggest trading partner since 2009. The president, Jacob Zuma, paid a state visit to Beijing last December, and a high-level delegation from the governing African National Congress (ANC) travelled there more recently on a “study tour and a political exchange”. Critics have said South Africa risks yielding too much economic and political influence to China, its biggest trading partner since 2009. The president, Jacob Zuma, paid a state visit to Beijing last December, and a high-level delegation from the governing African National Congress travelled there more recently on a “study tour and a political exchange”.
Ka Plaatjie, head of ANC Research, wrote afterwards: “It was interesting to learn that China has as many as five opposition parties, whose role was to assist the government to govern. They are called ‘participating opposition parties’. This was a far cry from South Africa, with its rowdy, noisy and disagreeable opposition.”Ka Plaatjie, head of ANC Research, wrote afterwards: “It was interesting to learn that China has as many as five opposition parties, whose role was to assist the government to govern. They are called ‘participating opposition parties’. This was a far cry from South Africa, with its rowdy, noisy and disagreeable opposition.”
Elijah Mhlanga, spokesperson for the Department of Basic Education, rejected the union’s criticism of Mandarin teaching. “We find it strange that there’s no opposition to the teaching of French, Portuguese, Latin, Greek, Arabic etc. Why is Mandarin targeted for criticism?” he said.Elijah Mhlanga, spokesperson for the Department of Basic Education, rejected the union’s criticism of Mandarin teaching. “We find it strange that there’s no opposition to the teaching of French, Portuguese, Latin, Greek, Arabic etc. Why is Mandarin targeted for criticism?” he said.
“Why don’t you check how many South Africans go to China daily? What happens when they get there? They can’t speak the language and they struggle. Is it not an advantage to learn the language of the people you are doing business with? If there’s opposition, why do we have teachers taking up the opportunity of going to China to learn?”“Why don’t you check how many South Africans go to China daily? What happens when they get there? They can’t speak the language and they struggle. Is it not an advantage to learn the language of the people you are doing business with? If there’s opposition, why do we have teachers taking up the opportunity of going to China to learn?”
The government’s position was endorsed by the Institute of Race Relations thinktank. Its chief executive, Frans Cronje, said: “We think it’s an excellent idea. China’s economic influence in Africa is growing obviously and at the same time the foreign policy and trade environment of many Africa economies is swinging from west to east. It is in the interests of children growing up in one of Africa’s leading economies to have an understanding of Chinese language and culture. It will serve them well in the future.”The government’s position was endorsed by the Institute of Race Relations thinktank. Its chief executive, Frans Cronje, said: “We think it’s an excellent idea. China’s economic influence in Africa is growing obviously and at the same time the foreign policy and trade environment of many Africa economies is swinging from west to east. It is in the interests of children growing up in one of Africa’s leading economies to have an understanding of Chinese language and culture. It will serve them well in the future.”
South Africa has 11 official languages but English dominates politics, business and the media.South Africa has 11 official languages but English dominates politics, business and the media.