Language of Teaching and Learning (LoLT) as a Barrier to Learning Mathematics: Impact on Mathematics Students in Higher Education

Abstract

Language is a barrier that hinders learning Mathematics in most schools in South African and thus may result in a lower throughput rate at most High Schools in South Africa. This is because students in most schools are taught Mathematics in their home language from Grade 1 to 3 and are taught Mathematics in English from Grade 4. This research project was motivated by the rise in number of late entry English learning students who drop Mathematics in Grade 9 and the possibilities of increasing number of students who will study Mathematics in Higher Education.