The Role of Mother Tongue Education

On 17 September 2025, the Inclusive Society Institute, in partnership with Daily Maverick, hosted the third instalment of its Constitutional Insights by Albie Sachs webinar series. Building on a four-part podcast with former Constitutional Court Justice Albie Sachs, the series explores the Constitution, social justice, and the promise of transformation in South Africa, while highlighting the ongoing challenges of building an inclusive and equitable democracy.

The third conversation focused on The Power of Mother Tongue Education — a foundational issue for both educational equity and social inclusion. Leading the discussion was Prof. Mbulungeni Madiba, Dean of the Faculty of Education at Stellenbosch University, whose scholarship and advocacy have been pivotal in advancing multilingualism and linguistic justice in South Africa’s education system. He was joined by public intellectual Prof. William Gumede and diversity and multilingualism researcher Dr. Robyn Tyler, bringing together expertise from education, research, and public policy.

The discussion examined how language policies intersect with identity, equity, and access. Prof. Madiba emphasised that mother tongue education is more than a pedagogical strategy — it is a constitutional imperative that empowers learners, strengthens communities, and affirms cultural and linguistic diversity. Gumede and Dr. Tyler explored the broader societal impact, highlighting how equitable access to mother tongue education can address historical inequalities, enhance learning outcomes, and reinforce the Constitution’s commitment to dignity and equality.

The speakers underscored that centring mother tongue education fosters a more inclusive and just society, reflecting the Constitution’s core values in both practice and principle. The conversation also reinforced the idea that multilingual education is a key tool for social cohesion, democratic participation, and community empowerment.

This third episode continues the series’ exploration of South Africa’s constitutional landscape, following earlier conversations on citizenship and belonging and the role of state institutions in upholding democracy. The final episode will focus on creating an inclusive electoral system, completing the series’ examination of critical democratic and constitutional issues.