University student protest for English to become primary language.

South Africa- Stellenbosch University looks set to become a fully fledged English medium university as from next year after management agreed to table the amended language policy before council later in November.

A statement released on Thursday evening by the rector’s management team said the primary language of communication and administration at Stellenbosch University would be English since it was the common language in SA.

 

All learning at Stellenbosch University would be facilitated in

English, and substantial academic support would be provided in other South African languages, according to students’ needs. In residences and other living environments, students should use English as the common language in house meetings and other official functions, the management team said.

The university has been accused of marginalising non-Afrikaans speaking students, amid mounting pressure for it to change its policy to allow instruction in English.

The council, which has oversight responsibilities over academic and operational issues, has indicated that it supports the new language policy. Student pressure group Open Stellenbosch has been protesting against the university’s language policy for the better part of the year arguing that it "safeguards Afrikaner culture" and excludes most black students.

In September, the university’s language task team recommended that Afrikaans and English should have equal status as mediums of teaching.

But the statement from the rector’s management team said English should be the main language of instruction.

"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," the statement read.

Open Stellenbosch said on Friday that the new language policy was a "significant victory in this struggle for access to education and for social justice in this country".