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Afrikaans Schools Are Shifting to English as SA Classrooms Become More Diverse

Published

40 minutes ago

December 4, 2025

Chiraag

former Afrikaans Model C school building South Africa, classroom of South African school, children at desks in South Africa school, blackboard in school classroom South Africa, multicultural students learning, Joburg ETC

Many former Afrikaans Model C schools across South Africa are quietly turning the page on pure Afrikaans instruction. With changing demographics and new rules under the Basic Education Laws Amendment Act, a significant number of these schools have begun offering classes in English.

A quiet shift with broad implications

Recent figures from the Department of Basic Education revealed that out of roughly 1,795 former Model C schools around the country, 639 were originally Afrikaans-medium institutions. Of these, 274 have now incorporated English into their teaching. That is more than four in every ten former Afrikaans schools opting for a bilingual or English-inclusive programme.

For many parents and learners, especially those who do not speak Afrikaans at home, the change represents greater access and inclusion. It accommodates families who have moved across provinces or whose children speak one of South Africa’s many home languages but not Afrikaans. The department described this trend as a national effort to cater to a more diverse student population.

African languages still playing catch-up

It is not only about Afrikaans and English. The Department also reported that 946 former Model C schools have begun integrating African languages into their offerings. The push appears strongest in KwaZulu-Natal, with 729 schools adopting this path, while Gauteng and the Free State follow with 99 and 32 schools.

Yet only 55 schools across all provinces have taken steps to include other languages beyond the main three. So while the move toward English expands rapidly, efforts to deepen multilingual education remain uneven. For many families who speak Zulu, Xhosa, Sotho, or other African languages, school instruction still may not reflect their home languages.

Why now? A changing country needs changing schools

The acceleration coincides with the implementation of the BELA Act, which requires school language and admissions policies to be reviewed. The shift is viewed as a welcome development, particularly for learners relocating from non-Afrikaans-speaking areas.

There is also a long-acknowledged reality. English remains the dominant language in higher education, business, and national governance. For some parents, English instruction offers a perceived advantage, especially for mobility and future opportunity.

Still, the change raises important questions. Communities and language activists continue to highlight the need for deeper support of African languages in the education system. Some worry that the country may miss an opportunity to strengthen learning through mother-tongue instruction in the early years.

What this means for Johannesburg and beyond

For parents in Gauteng, the change may make formerly exclusive Afrikaans schools feel more open and welcoming. More children from diverse linguistic backgrounds may now be able to attend schools they previously perceived as closed off.

But for those who care deeply about linguistic heritage, the trend invites debate about how to preserve the identity and value of African languages in a rapidly evolving system.

Whether this shift becomes a boost for social cohesion and inclusivity or a step away from linguistic diversity depends on how well schools balance English instruction with respect for South Africa’s richly multilingual roots.