22.01.12 Xhosa, Zulu being axed at state schools

Most former Model C primary schools in which English is the medium of instruction are scrapping African languages, thus forcing pupils to study Afrikaans as their official second language.

17.08.11 Students keen to learn an African language

Multilingualism advocates say there is considerable evidence that university students and academics are keen to learn an African language as part of their courses.

27.07.11 SA kids the best - read

Manor Gardens Primary School went up against school teams from the host country, New Zealand, and from the UK, the US, Canada and China in the annual Kids' Lit Quiz. The Durban team won this competition for the first time in its seven-year history!!

29.06.11 Many SA kids can’t read or write

The Grade 3 and 4 pupils scored a dismissal 28 percent in numeracy and literacy in a countrywide assessment test earlier this year.

14.06.11 Changing the subject

The launch of the new curriculum for grades R to 12 will see subjects streamlined to realise the goal of quality learning and teaching in schools.

06.06.11 Will this nation allow its languages to die out - from sheer neglect?

"Akukwazi ukuba yithi kuphela ekuthiwa sifunde isiNgisi nesiBhunu bakwethu, kodwa ezethu izilimi abanye bangazifundi" ("We can't be expected to learn English and Afrikaans, yet others don't learn our languages").

29.04.11 Dispel language snobbery

Apathy about learning African languages starts at home.

20.02.11 Treat your mother tongue as if it's the only one

The best way to learn English is by being proficient in one's mother language, writes Eran Williams

19.02.11 Star pupils opting to become teachers

The calibre of teachers in the country's schools looks set to drastically improve as scores of South Africa's top students sign up for the embattled profession.

26.11.10 Myths about Bilingualism

"Bilingualism causes confusion of languages for children!" This is one myth from parents debating about introducing other languages to their children. Is it really such a bad thing that as children learn more languages, they sometimes tend to mix them together?

25.11.10 Language Development: 6-7 years old

Your school-age child's development depends a lot on temperament, cultural influences and how important grown-ups behave. It's also affected by how secure your child feels in relationships with grown-ups. Opportunities to socialise with other children are important too.

27.10.10 7 Tips To Learning A Language On The Road

Why not make an effort to speak a few words of the local language? It will lead to a more authentic, fulfilling, unique and memorable travel experience. After all, you’re a brave new traveller.

27.10.10 The place I call home - South Africa

Perhaps one of the most outstanding things about my motherland is the range of different communities’ customs, food and languages. And it is this diversity that makes our country so colourful and lively!

27.10.10 Language Development: 4-5

A list of some of the things your preschooler might do as his language and communication skills develop between the ages of four and five years.

28.09.10 South Africa: A country of anarchists!

How does it happen that teachers, who are responsible for producing agents of positive change in our country, are being paid the meagre salaries that they are receiving?

27.09.10 In Appreciation of Teachers

Teachers professionalism, dedication, and expertise form the cornerstone of our nation's education system. Without their hard work scientists, artists, our political and business leaders would not be among the best in the world.

27.09.10 Language Learning Tips

Some tips for your family that can support the development and strengthening of the Mother Tongue, which will ultimately also enhance additional languages that are learned.

25.08.10 The Mobile Donkey Librarian

Literacy is coming to some rural Ethiopian children on a donkey’s back. In the Ethiopian town of Awassa, an Ethiopian-American man returned to the land of his birth, and is helping youngsters who are hungry for books and knowledge.

25.08.10 Texting and Literacy

Texting and internet memes must surely be the downfall of formal language, right? Quite a few scholarly studies point to no, actually. While it’s true that conventional English spelling and correct grammar are noticeably absent from the majority of texting conversations, the phonetics are accurate.

25.08.10 10 Tips for Boosting the Second Language

Your toddler may think that he or she's a complete superhero -- and when it comes to language acquisition, it's actually true! As easy as acquiring multiple languages is for small children, the single most important factor in language learning is the quantity of spoken language addressed to the child.

29.07.10 Raising a teenaged girl child

It is two o’clock in the morning, a freezing cold winter morning, and I am wide awake. It takes me a few seconds to realise it was all a dream, the anger, the fear that got my heart racing and that feeling of helplessness.

26.07.10 A labor of love

Originally from Ethiopia, Miriam Tigist Green, 4, was adopted by Emory professor Clifton Green and his wife in 2005.

25.07.10 Top 10 Reasons Your Children Aren’t Speaking Your Language

Wondering why your children are not speaking your language? It is hard to say why one child will gladly speak a second (and third and fourth) language while another will resist it.

15.07.10 Family is bigger than the nucleus

"Nna, le Tata, le Solo re Bataung. Mama wena o Mofokeng," Lulu said matter-of-factly. She had being learning about her family totem and was...

14.07.10 Language Lessons

When my 7-year old son was born, my husband and I were very careful to be consistent in speaking to him in our respective languages. That really bore fruit because when he started to speak, he could speak to me...

13.07.10 How Multilingual Families Can Start a Language Playgroup!

Once you have decided these basics, it is time to let people know what you have organized. Contact your local community centers, libraries, and schools as well as parent...

15.06.10 Musings from a longstanding sports enthusiast

The count-down continues and excitement is reaching an all-time high, with less than a month to go to the biggest sporting event ever staged...

14.06.10 Keeping Kidz Active with Indigenous Games

What do we do with our kidz to keep them entertained, fit and active during the much anticipated June 2010 holidays? It is such an expensive and daunting task to try and entertain our kidz these days. If it’s not movies or DVDs...

15.05.10 The threat of no story time

The naughty corner stopped working in my house a long time ago simply because when one child is banished to the naughty corner the other one follows. Soon after I hear giggles and general play which defeats the whole...

14.05.10 Age Appropriate Literature for Kids

So my 5 year old son is learning how to read and he is enjoying his new found freedom, of course my husband and I beam proudly as he tries to read any and every word he comes across. This young mind is like a little sponge...

15.04.10 Not-so-secret translator

My daughter is now 5 years old, although she’ll tell you 5 and a half. Either way, that’s 5 years and 8 months (to be exact) of me speaking...

14.04.10 "Mommy do you know Gogo can’t speak English?"

This was the statement that came from a 4 year toddler who had just come to the shocking (and according to her, hysterical) realization that she may not....

09.11.09 10 Myths You Will Be Told About Multilingual Children

People are well-meaning, but they often operate from their beliefs rather than the facts. When you talk about raising a multilingual child, you will no doubt hear...

19.10.09 Basic Child Development Stages

Some parents have been wondering out loud about their child’s developmental stages – well here’s a holistic look at what to expect at which age. Remember that this is just a guideline...

09.10.09 The Benefits of Early Learning of Second Language

How can we equip our children for the increasingly pluralistic society and multilingual world they are entering? One answer, according to recent research on learning first and second language, is to expose children to...

05.10.09 Teaching for Africa!

On this 5th October, World Teachers Day, here's some food for thought on what it will take for Africa's children to thrive through the guidance of teachers...

30.07.09 Puo at the Jozi Book Fair

We’re excited to be part of the first ever Jozi Book Fair on the 8th and 9th August at Museum Africa in Newton. Puo will have a stall on both days plus we'll be running a children's hour on Saturday and part of a roundtable discussion...

22.05.09 School Ventures names Puo an African education innovator

School Ventures, an impact catalyst for the African education sector, has named Puo Educational Products as one of its innovators in the area of education on the African...

09.04.09 Books II: Children’s Stories (in all 11 S.A. official languages)

Yet again Nonikiwe brings us goodies in the form of children's books available in all 11 official South African languages. Get all five copies and enjoy over the school holidays...

19.03.09 WHERE TO BUY: “First Words” children’s flashcards in African languages

We are so excited to announce that the “First Words” flashcards are NOW AVAILABLE IN BLOEMFONTEIN, CAPE TOWN and in a few other stores in Joburg in the following languages – isiZulu, isiXhosa, Sesotho and Setswana...

19.02.09 International Mother Tongue Day

Saturday 21 February is International Mother Tongue Day. Yes, I know what you’re probably thinking – “How many more ‘days’ are people going to make us acknowledge?”...

15.01.09 New Year Puo-style

As part of the Puo community, it is safe to assume that you value the use of African languages and teaching the next generation about the culture and people of the African continent. So to extend that value a bit further in this new year...

11.12.08 Children giving to children

If your house is anything like mine, then it is filled with toys, toys, and more toys! What’s worse is that my children don’t even play with half of them – not too surprising given that...

05.12.08 Books: 5 Children’s Stories to Enjoy (avail in SA languages)

Have you been looking for an African language book for your child? Perfect as a Christmas present or just as a treat that will be enjoyed for months to come...

17.11.08 White schoolboy chooses to learn Zulu over ‘dying language’

Trent-Dean Richardson has been nicknamed “Zulu Boy” because he is the only white matric pupil at his school studying an African language...

08.11.08 Matrics Reject African Languages

The overwhelming majority of SA's school pupils are not interested enough in indigenous African languages to study them at school...

26.09.08 A Slippery Mother Tongue

The phrase "mother tongue" is thrown around very liberally to refer to the dominant language of your family, but how many of us can really speak our so-called mother tongues fluently? This becomes more evident when we...

24.09.08 The Mother Tongue Dilemma

Studies show that we learn better in our mother tongue. But then it has to be taught in school, which is not the case of all minority languages. More convinced than ever of the value of multilingualism, certain countries are trying...