Chronicle Editor
Mthabisi Tshuma, Chronicle Correspondent
THE recruitment of teachers for the Sesotho language is currently underway with deployment to schools expected next month, an official has said.
The Sesotho language lessons are set to start at secondary schools this year following the examination of the language at Grade Seven level last year after a 50-year hiatus.
In a telephone interview yesterday, Matabeleland South acting provincial education director Mr Lifias Masukume said teachers were selected on the basis of their qualifications.
“We have started the recruitment of teachers who will be teaching the Sesotho language at Form One Level.
“The selection is based on how versed the individual is with the Sesotho language and if they have a qualification in the language. Qualification at tertiary institutions is highly considered thus those interested should not hesitate to apply,” said Mr Masukume.
He said they hope to get the ball rolling next month once all procedures have been done.
Mr Masukume said the Ministry is working hard to ensure that the learning of the subject goes as planned in a bid to ensure that marginalised communities access education in their languages.
“The districts which will offer the subject are currently on the ground going around schools to look at how best the subject may be taught and successfully introduced.
“A makeshift arrangement is in place to ensure that the learning of Sesotho is made a success as we aim to go on and introduce the subject to Form Two pupils next year,” said Mr Masukume.
Schools that are set to offer the subject fall under Gwanda district.
Mr Masukume said they are waiting for communication from the publishers of Form One textbooks on how far they have gone with printing.
A member of the Sesotho Language and Culture Association (SLACA) who is also a research assistant at the Midlands State University Language Institute, Mrs Maretha Dube, revealed that the Sesotho Form One syllabus had already been crafted and will be delivered to schools soon.
The proposed name of the book is Lekhato ka lekhato, Puo ke lefa 1.
She said the association, working with the Zimbabwe Indigenous Languages Association (ZILA) and the Zimbabwe Indigenous Languages Promotion Association (ZILPA), saw the need to progress to secondary level since Sesotho was first written during the Grade Seven examinations last year.-@mthabisi_mthire.
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