Of significance was that all learners whose Language of Learning and Teaching would be English from Grade 4 onwards would be required to take English as a subject from Grade 1. This meant that the teaching of English would occur alongside home language instruction for those learners who chose English as a Language of Learning and Teaching in later grades. English would not replace the home language in the early grades. Each learner would be taught in his or her home language in the early grades where it was practically possible. The move to English in Grade 1 was intended for those schools whose home language was not English.