Research has consistently shown that language is an important factor in how learners perform academically. As a multilingual country, South African research provides unique insight into the effect of language on learner achievement. The Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS) 2015 included a number of items related to language the help us understand its influence on achievement. Jaqueline Harvey discusses the findings for grade 5 and grade 9 learners.
Human Sciences Research Council (Sat,) studied this question.