Cape Town - Students of the Cape Peninsula University of Technology’s (CPUT) Wellington campus have been granted the right to write their tests and exams in Afrikaans.
In August civil rights organisation AfriForum took issue with the institution after they learned that students in the agricultural department had been told they will have to write tests and exams in English, after close to three years of learning in Afrikaans.
Afriforum threatened CPUT with legal action last month when students came to them for help.
CPUT vice-chairman Dr Prins Nevhutalu wrote, in Afrikaans, to Afriforum on Friday saying the official language of instruction at CPUT was English and the only exception to the rule has been the Wellington campus.
For that reason he said they would allow the students to write their exams in Afrikaans this year. But from 2015 all students would be taught in English, he said.
Head of education campaigns for AfriForum Carien Bloem said they were “very glad” about the decision.
They issued a statement on Monday saying they welcomed Nevhutalu’s response to their request for exam papers to be allowed in Afrikaans.
Bloem said the students were relieved.
“AfriForum is grateful their language rights are being respected.”
rebecca [email protected]
Cape Times