Building isiXhosa scholarship requires more than curriculum development and classroom instruction. It requires collaboration between teachers, academics, student teachers, language practitioners, and education stakeholders who can learn from one another while collectively advancing African language education.

This vision took an important step forward when the Centre for African Language Teaching (CALT) at the University of the Western Cape (UWC) officially launched the Community of Practice for the Teaching of isiXhosa in Schools last month. More than 52 participants, including teachers, subject advisors, academics, student teachers, alumni, non-governmental organisations and language organisations gathered in person and online to join this shared initiative and to strengthen isiXhosa language education.

The Community of Practice is a collaborative space where educational knowledge can be shared, developed and applied to strengthen the teaching and learning of isiXhosa. By connecting expertise across schools, universities and education organisations, the initiative aims to support both professional learning and the growth of isiXhosa scholarship.Opening the launch, Prof Rajendran Govender, Dean of the Faculty of Education, reaffirmed the Faculty’s commitment to African language education and teacher professional learning. He also highlighted UWC’s longstanding commitment to Recognition of Prior Learning and widening access to educational opportunities.

Key challenges

Dr Nick Taylor from JET Education Services reflected on some of the key challenges facing language education, including limited curriculum space, insufficient specialist expertise and the reliance on part-time staff. He argued that the Community of Practice could play an important role in strengthening the field through collaboration, curriculum development, research and scholarly publication.

Addressing participants, Prof Ayub Sheik, Head of the Department of Language Education, encouraged educators to recognise the knowledge that emerges from their daily practice. “Classrooms are spaces where educational knowledge is created,” he said, urging teachers and student teachers to see themselves as knowledge producers who contribute to the advancement of the profession.

For Prof Nokhanyo Mdzanga, Coordinator of CALT, the Community of Practice represents a significant shift in how professional learning is understood: “At CALT, we believe that transforming African language education begins by transforming how we learn as professionals. The Community of Practice is our commitment to creating a professional home where teachers are recognised as scholars of practice, where classroom experience is valued as knowledge, and where universities, schools and communities work together to shape the future of isiXhosa language education. We are not simply building a programme; we are building isiXhosa scholarship through collaboration.”

Messages of support

The launch also received messages of support from the Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET), the Pan South African Language Board (PanSALB), and subject advisors from the Western Cape Education Department, all of whom reaffirmed the importance of collaboration in strengthening multilingual education in South Africa, and pledged their continued support.

Equally significant were the contributions from teachers, students, alumni and partner universities, who described the Community of Practice as a space where teachers’ knowledge, creativity and professional expertise can be recognised and expanded. Participants highlighted how collaborative engagement can strengthen confidence in teaching isiXhosa while creating opportunities to develop literary, poetic and creative writing skills that enrich classroom practice.

Student and alumni speakers also reminded participants that language is more than a school subject; it is a carrier of identity, culture and heritage.In the future, the Community of Practice will facilitate webinars, seminars, collaborative research projects, writing retreats, digital resource development and professional conversations connecting educators and language practitioners across the province and beyond. Members will also work together to develop terms of reference, governance structures and strategic priorities.

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