The Department of Basic Education (DBE) has launched its first Mother Tongue-Based Bilingual Education assessments for Grade 4 learners.

In a statement, it says the assessments aim to boost foundational learning and comprehension by teaching in home languages alongside English.

The end-goal is to strengthen literacy, numeracy, and equity in education.

Acting Director for Communication and Research at the Department, Terence Khala, says the assessments represent a major step toward a more equitable education system.

“Today, the Department of Basic Education has made history with the first writing of mother tongue-based bilingual assessments for Grade 4 learners in Natural Science and Technology today, with Mathematics following tomorrow the 25th of November. Now, these assessments mark an important milestone in South Africa’s ongoing efforts to strengthen foundational learning, improve learner comprehension and build a more equitable and effective education system,” adds Khala.

The Department of Basic Education has taken a major step in strengthening foundational learning with the launch of the first Grade 4 assessments aligned to the Mother Tongue-Based Bilingual Education Framework.

These new tools assess understanding through both the home language… pic.twitter.com/HobZnTTCxw

— Dep. Basic Education (@DBE_SA) November 24, 2025

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