Historic Step Towards Multilingual Education in South Africa: MTbBE Assessments Begin!
In an inspiring milestone for South Africa’s education landscape, on November 24, 2025, the Minister of Basic Education, Ms. Siviwe Gwarube, celebrated the launch of the much-anticipated Mother Tongue-based Bilingual Education (MTbBE) assessments. This landmark event kickstarted with Natural Science and Technology assessments, followed by Mathematics evaluations on November 25.
The MTbBE initiative is a significant element of South Africa’s commitment to fostering a more equitable and effective educational framework. By teaching and assessing children in their home languages alongside English, the program aims to enhance comprehension and master essential concepts, ultimately leading to improved literacy and numeracy skills.
Minister Gwarube emphasized the critical importance of mother-tongue instruction in reversing learning setbacks and enriching foundational education. “When learners grasp the language of instruction, they participate with greater confidence, dive deeper into various subjects, and navigate their educational journey more successfully,” she stated.
This year, an impressive 11,948 schools across all nine provinces have adopted MTbBE, a testament to South Africa’s rich linguistic diversity. This initiative not only honors the country’s multicultural heritage but also represents a robust national commitment to leveraging language in the pursuit of educational success.
Here’s a glimpse into the provincial breakdown of schools participating in MTbBE:
– Eastern Cape: 3,860 schools offering Afrikaans, IsiXhosa, and Sesotho
– KwaZulu-Natal: 3,558 schools offering Afrikaans, IsiXhosa, IsiZulu, and Sesotho
– Limpopo: 2,229 schools offering IsiNdebele, Tshivenda, IsiZulu, Sepedi, Setswana, and Xitsonga
– Mpumalanga: 768 schools offering a variety of languages including Afrikaans and IsiZulu
– North West: 950 schools offering Afrikaans, IsiXhosa, Sesotho, and Setswana
– Free State: 204 schools offering multiple languages including Sepedi and Xitsonga
– Northern Cape: 172 schools offering Afrikaans, IsiXhosa, Sesotho, and Setswana
– Western Cape: 187 schools offering Afrikaans, IsiXhosa, and Sesotho
– Gauteng: 20 schools offering all 11 official languages, showcasing remarkable inclusivity
The Minister expressed heartfelt gratitude to teachers, school managers, provincial departments, and parents for their relentless support in making MTbBE a success, highlighting this effort as a crucial part of South Africa’s dedication to ensuring every child has the chance to read meaningfully and excel in both mathematics and science.
As the MTbBE program continues to expand, the Department of Basic Education is also focused on enhancing teacher training and developing high-quality learning resources in all official languages. With the launch of these assessments, South Africa is not only making strides in educational quality but is also fostering a sense of dignity and confidence within classrooms.
The Minister extends her best wishes to all Grade 4 learners as they embark on this important journey of assessment. Here’s hoping that their efforts yield the success they strive for!
For further updates, stay tuned to Africazine.
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