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Language of assessment matters: Early learning outcomes when preschool children are tested in isiXhosa mother tongue vs in English: The language of learning and teaching
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Language of assessment matters: Early learning outcomes when preschool children are tested in isiXhosa mother tongue vs in English: The language of learning and teaching
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Journal Article
Language of assessment matters: Early learning outcomes when preschool children are tested in isiXhosa mother tongue vs in English: The language of learning and teaching
2026
Overview
BackgroundMany young children in South Africa are enrolled in early learning programmes (ELPs) that use a different language of learning and teaching (LOLT) from their mother tongue. In which language should they be assessed?AimTo investigate the effect of the language of testing on Early Learning Outcomes Measure 4&5 (ELOM 4&5) performance.SettingPreschool Programmes.MethodsThe nationally standardised ELOM 4&5 was administered to isiXhosa-speaking children (39 boys and 46 girls) attending English LOLT programmes (mean age = 62.12 months; standard deviation [sd] = 4.36). The language of assessment order was counterbalanced (English first and isiXhosa second or vice versa). A mixed linear model with fixed and random effects was fitted with ELOM 4&5 Total score at assessment time 2 in language 2 (English or isiXhosa) as the dependent variable. The model included the following predictors: ELOM 4&5 Total score in the language assessed at time 1, days between assessments, sex, age in months and ratings of Task Orientation.ResultsChildren performed better in isiXhosa regardless of the language of administration order. Children assessed in English first performed better when tested in isiXhosa second.ConclusionEarly Learning Outcomes Measure 4&5 test scores of English LOLT isiXhosa-speaking children in ELPs are likely to be more valid indicators of their ability when children are tested in their mother tongue language.ContributionThis first South African study to investigate the effects of language of test administration on ELOM 4&5 performance in children attending English LOLT programmes indicates that isiXhosa speakers should be assessed in their mother tongue as required by the national home language assessment policy.
Publisher
AOSIS,African Online Scientific Information Systems (Pty) Ltd t/a AOSIS,University of Johannesburg
