Cape Town - Students at Stellenbosch University are demanding that English be the primary language of instruction, and internal and external communication.
On Tuesday, Open Stellenbosch released a proposal for English to be adopted as the primary language at Stellenbosch University.
The proposal reads: “This document is the culmination of more than two decades of struggle for more equitable language practices at Stellenbosch University.
“Resistance to progress has largely been driven by a conservative desire to safeguard what is today known as standard Afrikaans.”
Among the goals of the alternative language policy, submitted to the university senate for consideration, is that staff and students “accommodate one another by communicating in a language shared by all”.
“The primary medium of instruction will be English and substantial learning support will be provided in other official languages according to the needs of students and as institutionally agreed.
“Substantial support may include parallel medium classes alongside those in English.”
It went on to say all learning materials – textbooks, handouts, electronic documents etc – would need to be made available in English, and where feasible and reasonably practicable, other official languages according to the needs of students and capabilities of staff.
“General communication will be conducted in a language that is understood by all present, and where there is uncertainty, English as the lingua franca (common language). This includes communication within staff meetings and residence meetings.
The policy aims to achieve an institutional environment where:
* Staff and students accommodate one another by communicating in a language shared by all.
* Speakers of all official languages are included.
* No person is unfairly discriminated against on the basis of language or communication.
* Language is not a barrier to access or participation in the life of the institution.
* Language acquisition and study of the official languages of South Africa is encouraged and enabled as a matter of priority.
* Foreign language study is enabled as institutionally agreed and where feasible.
The movement said on its Facebook page: “We call on senate and council to consider this policy at their upcoming meetings this month.”
Open Stellenbosch’s Emile Engel said: “The vice-chancellor promised they will consider our proposed language policy. The council, on the other hand, says it is not
possible to change the policy before the end of 2015, but it is possible because they can circulate the document to those to see it before the council meeting.”
Engel said they were unsure of their next move should the proposal be rejected.
“We will have to discuss as a collective on what to do next if our policy is not considered, but we are hoping it won’t come to that.”
Students and university workers participated in destructive protests around campus on Tuesday, torching wheelie bins, statues and at least one vehicle. The students joined the workers’ protest against outsourcing.
Police spokeswoman, Constable Noloyiso Rwexana, confirmed that four workers had been arrested during the protest and were facing charges of intimidation and obstruction of police officers in execution of their duties.
In a statement last week, the rector’s management team said it had been in discussion with student groups over the past months on, among other things, Stellenbosch University’s language policy, the language plan and language implementation.
“The primary language of communication and administration at Stellenbosch University will be English, with Afrikaans and isiXhosa as additional languages.
“The additional languages may not be used to exclude anyone from full participation at the university.
“This implies that all communication at Stellenbosch University will be in at least English, including meetings, official documents and services at reception desks and the call centre etc,” the statement read.
A statement has since been posted on the university’s website, which states that: “A statement on language implementation at Stellenbosch University by the rector’s management team (RMT) on 12 November 2015 has been met with widespread and diverse reaction from various stakeholders.”
Cape Argus
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