Symposium shows importance of mother-tongue education
The South African Academy for Science and Arts annually presents a symposium for a select group of postgraduate students during which they can present their final workpieces in their mother tongue, Afrikaans. Outstanding workpieces of students from across the country can be entertained at the symposium and it covers a wide variety of research fields.
AfriForum is one of the main sponsors at this symposium year after year. “It is really wonderful to observe this quality of work of the students, especially during a time when unbelievable negativity prevails around education in South Africa. The standard of the workpieces delivered by students gives one some hope again,” said Carien Bloem, AfriForum’s Project Coordinator for Education.
The symposium once again proved that studying and presenting in your mother tongue lead to great success. Students are not only relaxed during their presentations, but the submissions are also more understandable. “It is a daily battle to help Afrikaans survive at universities and schools. Institutions such as the South African Academy for Science and Arts makes it possible for Afrikaans to also show growth in the academics as research and education language,” added Bloem.
Participating students are extremely positive about the symposium and mentions time and time again before the start of a presentation how nice it is for them to be able to present their workpieces in Afrikaans.
The symposium is presented over a period of two days and was held at the University of the Free State in 2015.
Interested parties can also have a look at AfriForum’s SLIM video on YouTube by simply clicking on the following link: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=
AfriForum’s SLIM campaign particularly urges prospective Afrikaans students to continue their tertiary studies in their mother tongue.
Issued by Carien Bloem, Project Coordinator: Education, AfriForum, 30 October 2015
