AfriForum: “US management not to be trusted”
13 November 2015
AfriForum is of the opinion that the statement concerning language policy that was released late last night by the Rector’s management team of the University of Stellenbosch (US) is proof that any allegations regarding their appreciation for and dedication towards Afrikaans education are nothing more than lip service.
According to Alana Bailey, Deputy CEO of AfriForum, the statement testifies of extreme ideological obligingness, or serious ignorance, seeing as reference is made to “best language policy practices” that are allegedly emulated. “International recognised best practices prove that mother tongue education is the best option for students and further also supports the presentation of education in high function languages that are used in the vicinity of a tertiary institution.
According to the census of 2011, Afrikaans is the mother tongue of 49,6% of residents in the Western Cape, against 24,7% isiXhosa mother tongue speakers and only 20,2% English mother tongue speakers. Students who wish to study in English have three unilingual English campuses to choose from in the immediate vicinity.
Already discrimination takes place against the 49,6% Afrikaans speakers on the basis of language by only offering them partial access to Afrikaans education at the US. The statement makes it clear the US management cannot even be trusted to maintain the partial presentation, but wants to make an effort to further marginalise Afrikaans and discriminating even more drastically against Afrikaans speaking students.”
It disappoints that the US management is acting vigorously in reaction to a rand organisation such as Open Stellenbosch’s unfounded allegations, but is disregarding the best interests of basically half of the province’s residents and is not even interested in conversing with mainstream student institutions advocating Afrikaans education, even excluding them from the argumentation. It reflects exaggerated ideological obligingness in contrast with the promotion of best education practices and academic freedom, declared Bailey.
She added that prospective students must take note of the management’s statement (which is now being played down as a “discussion document”, even though it was yesterday released as a statement regarding management’s policy point of view). The release of the statement, the content thereof and management’s indecision regarding the nature of the document pave way for serious questions about the trustworthiness of management and students must therefore think twice if they can believe the undertakings given to finish their courses in Afrikaans.
She is also of the opinion that US alumni, donators and anyone feeling strongly about the promotion of Afrikaans as high function and education language, must take note of management’s point of view and ask themselves if they can continue supporting management with an open mind if this is an indication of the manner in which Afrikaans will be treated in future. Not only does it affect the language policy, but also any other undertakings given by management.
Statement issued by Alana Bailey, Deputy CEO, AfriForum, 13 November 2015
