As we continue to navigate the world of education in Covid19, – shortcomings of Online Education Language, Culture and Education are inseparable when it comes to teaching, hence the online with NOT immediately succeed in a country like South Africa.
Education experts across the world and particularly the UN Convention agrees that teaching in mother tongue is a human right. I am sure we do understand that language is one of the fundamental barriers to successful communication and failure of communication in education is the failure of the intention.
When I look at the online education suggestions as presented by some sections of societies in our country and I get to realise how far we have gone apart from reality.
Online education will honestly serve a small minority and its fundamental issue will be language and culture.
The kids who voluntarily speak English do so voluntarily and certainly have a cultural capital from parents or those living with. The cultural support they receive is backed by technological exposures and luxury of life (good things).
They do not have a general crisis of not using mother tongue because the cultural capital is able to immediately switch and provide clarity to shortcomings.
I say that because teaching in the mother tongue results in better results in an understanding of knowledge and in most cases more effective.
I have looked at most of the presented online courses and the fear I have is that we might as well commit to a dead end as we intend to count days lost and chasing of time.
English for many kids requires recitation particularly with those who were part of the experience to gain some form of confidence before taking it to parents.
Therefore kids that do not have that cultural capital are and in fact will highly struggle with having to study in a language they are not familiar with and a language that even annoys the support they requirements.
It will only be the kids of those who are privileged who will attempt some form of success.
Schools must cut down classes, introduce new times, use extra facilities available in municipalities and religious centres so that we can continue with education for education.
If we educate online to chase time, we will be no different from the virus. We will drive the future to a dead.
Sive Madala Gumenge is a former SASCO in Western Cape and an Academic Activist. He writes in his Personal Capacity.