There are 11 official languages in the Republic of South Africa, yet somewhat surprisingly we still have institutions of higher learning that haven’t made positive strides in language integration, and those who have only made provision for specific languages. This is the state of affairs as we know it.
Last week, the University of the Free State (UFS), and the University of Pretoria (UP) #UPBlackMonday ‘Black Monday’ derived from the circa 1987 Dow Jones plummet to epitomise the grave losses, were marred with student protest action, and the protest action of outsourced workers. This is not the first time SA universities make headlines, only a few months ago did the republic bear witness to the #NationalShutdown and #FeesMustFall movements (see: The progressive realisation of socio-economic rights: #FeesMustFall http://bit.ly/1O4bI43 )
In the beginning, we are sold this Kovsie dream
– UFS Student, The Daily Maverick
At UP, groups of students clashed over the different views on the university’s policy on language. The proposition for English to be the primary medium of instruction had been raised, the various bodies and stakeholders of the university were said to have convened to discuss these propositions. As per Times Live article, that meeting was postponed. In the UFS, UFS Vice Chancellor and Rector Professor Jonathan Jansen, condemned the violence and racial aggression at the university.
It’s basically mob justice. Anyone can beat you. Anything can happen.
– UFS Student, The Daily Maverick
Language Policy, are we all talk and no action?
The department of education has an important role to enforce language policy, Languages, inter alia are protected under the Constitution in terms of Section 30 ‘Language and Culture’ clause. The issue of language policies is a multi-tiered one, it affects education from its basic foundational phase, education at a higher level (universities) and the autonomies of the universities – which presupposes a balancing exercise. What we are now seeing is the result of long stemming problems that the country has been facing. According to a report in the Mail & Guardian publication: ‘Language policy lets pupils down’, Children the world over have the same potential for mathematics when they enter school, but South Africa is not harnessing this latent capability because of shortcomings in its policy on language in education.
Therefore for language policies to be implemented, it will take a cumulative effort from all parties concerned, starting at the very foundational levels. It is a greater debate, with two main diverging schools of thought.
This article will be followed-up in the coming weeks to see how the various stakeholders meet minds and find progressive solutions to SA’s educational language debacle. We should after all, a hopeful democratic nation.
NZIMANDE IN URGENT TALKS OVER UNIVERSITY OF PRETORIA PROTESTS, Times Live http://bit.ly/1S9RJpr
LANGUAGE POLICY LETS PUPILS DOWN, Mail & Guardian http://bit.ly/1Tp03TT
*Suggested further reading: Bi- and multilingual universities: EUROPEAN PERSPECTIVES AND BEYOND, Edited by Daniela Veronesi, Christoph Nickenig
