Decision expected over Stellenbosch University draft language policy

22 June 2016

Cape Town – Stellenbosch University's council will on Wednesday make a final decision on the proposed new language policy.

It would consider the draft policy, published on the university's website, as well as amendments proposed by senate and the institutional forum.

"If council should accept the draft policy with senate's amendments, it means that the draft policy becomes the new language policy of Stellenbosch University. If council should disagree with certain aspects of the policy, it will have to be referred back to senate," explained university spokesperson Susan van der Merwe.

In November 2015, the university announced that all learning at the institution would be in English, as it was the common language in the country. It added that "substantial academic support" would be provided in other South African languages, according to students' needs.

All interested parties were given the opportunity to view the policy online and comment.

A council motion in November stated that "language may never be an obstacle for any student who has no command of either Afrikaans or English wishing to pursue undergraduate or postgraduate study at Stellenbosch University".

This article first appeared on News24, see here.