THE announcement that the University of Stellenbosch has adopted English as its main language of instruction looks set to be rejected by council members when it is put before them later this month.
It has emerged that the announcement by the rector’s management team on Friday may have been premature since only the council, with the concurrence of the senate at the university, can approve changes to language policy. Furthermore, i t appears there is not enough time left this year to decide on the change in language policy before it could be implemented next year.
Student lobby group Open Stellenbosch has been protesting against the university’s language policy for most of the year, arguing that the policy "safeguards Afrikaner culture" and excludes black students.
The rector’s management team seems to have now acceded to the pressure group’s demands.
In a statement on Friday, it said that from next year, the primary language of communication and administration at the university would be English.
Historically, Stellenbosch was one of several Afrikaans-medium universities, many of which have since become dual-medium institutions. English has been the primary language of instruction at postgraduate level.
The management team said all learning at the university would be facilitated in English, and substantial academic support would be provided in other South African languages, in accordance with the needs of students.
In residences and other living environments, students should use English as the common language in house meetings and other official functions, the team said.
However, a council member who spoke on condition of anonymity as he is not mandated to speak on council matters, described the statement by the management team as "misleading", saying it implied the university was certain to adopt English as the main language of instruction.
"The general view in council is that Afrikaans and English should have equal status as mediums of teaching … I can tell you that if the proposal to adopt English as the main language is put to council, it will not be approved," said the council member.
In September, the university’s language task team recommended Afrikaans and English should have equal status as mediums of teaching. The council, which has oversight responsibilities for academic and operational issues, at the time indicated it supported the proposed language policy.
Council member Piet le Roux told Business Day at the weekend he would not support the proposal to adopt English as the main language of instruction. "I consider the announcement as contrary to council policy and made in bad faith," said Mr le Roux.
"Management had no right to make such an announcement — neither ethically nor statutorily — without council first passing it.
"Formulation of language policy is, by university statute and national legislation, the responsibility of council, with concurrence of senate," he said.
Pro-Afrikaner lobby group AfriForum has criticised the proposed switch, saying the university "wants to further marginalise Afrikaans and (is) discriminating even more drastically against Afrikaans-speaking students".
Susan van der Merwe, University of Stellenbosch spokeswoman on language, said the statement by the rector’s management team was not a policy document.
"Only council can approve changes to the language policy with the concurrence of senate.
"This will entail a formal process of presenting a revised (language) policy, first to senate and then to council for approval. With only one senate and one council meeting left in November 2015, it is unlikely that this process will be completed still this year," said Ms van der Merwe.
The Democratic Alliance said at the weekend the proposal to make English the primary language of instruction, if implemented, would contravene the constitutional principle that every person has the right to be taught in the official language of their choice, where reasonably practicable.
Stellenbosch University. Picture: SUNDAY TIMES
THE announcement that the University of Stellenbosch has adopted English as its main language of instruction looks set to be rejected by council members when it is put before them later this month.
It has emerged that the announcement by the rector’s management team on Friday may have been premature since only the council, with the concurrence of the senate at the university, can approve changes to language policy. Furthermore, i t appears there is not enough time left this year to decide on the change in language policy before it could be implemented next year.
Student lobby group Open Stellenbosch has been protesting against the university’s language policy for most of the year, arguing that the policy "safeguards Afrikaner culture" and excludes black students.
The rector’s management team seems to have now acceded to the pressure group’s demands.
In a statement on Friday, it said that from next year, the primary language of communication and administration at the university would be English.
Historically, Stellenbosch was one of several Afrikaans-medium universities, many of which have since become dual-medium institutions. English has been the primary language of instruction at postgraduate level.
The management team said all learning at the university would be facilitated in English, and substantial academic support would be provided in other South African languages, in accordance with the needs of students.
In residences and other living environments, students should use English as the common language in house meetings and other official functions, the team said.
However, a council member who spoke on condition of anonymity as he is not mandated to speak on council matters, described the statement by the management team as "misleading", saying it implied the university was certain to adopt English as the main language of instruction.
"The general view in council is that Afrikaans and English should have equal status as mediums of teaching … I can tell you that if the proposal to adopt English as the main language is put to council, it will not be approved," said the council member.
In September, the university’s language task team recommended Afrikaans and English should have equal status as mediums of teaching. The council, which has oversight responsibilities for academic and operational issues, at the time indicated it supported the proposed language policy.
Council member Piet le Roux told Business Day at the weekend he would not support the proposal to adopt English as the main language of instruction. "I consider the announcement as contrary to council policy and made in bad faith," said Mr le Roux.
"Management had no right to make such an announcement — neither ethically nor statutorily — without council first passing it.
"Formulation of language policy is, by university statute and national legislation, the responsibility of council, with concurrence of senate," he said.
Pro-Afrikaner lobby group AfriForum has criticised the proposed switch, saying the university "wants to further marginalise Afrikaans and (is) discriminating even more drastically against Afrikaans-speaking students".
Susan van der Merwe, University of Stellenbosch spokeswoman on language, said the statement by the rector’s management team was not a policy document.
"Only council can approve changes to the language policy with the concurrence of senate.
"This will entail a formal process of presenting a revised (language) policy, first to senate and then to council for approval. With only one senate and one council meeting left in November 2015, it is unlikely that this process will be completed still this year," said Ms van der Merwe.
The Democratic Alliance said at the weekend the proposal to make English the primary language of instruction, if implemented, would contravene the constitutional principle that every person has the right to be taught in the official language of their choice, where reasonably practicable.
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