AfriForum ready to assist targeted Afrikaans schools

22 April 2015

The civil rights organisation AfriForum condemned a notice that was distributed yesterday (April 21 2015) listing the names of single-medium Afrikaans schools which, according to the Gauteng Department of Education, have to change to dual-medium schools. AfriForum wishes to bring it to the attention of the department that any change concerning the language policy of a school is by law the responsibility of the parent governing body, and that the department cannot decide about it.

According to Carien Bloem, AfriForum’s campaign coordinator for Education Affairs, most of these schools are already occupied to their maximum capacity. “The department creates the false impression that an amendment of the language policy will create room for more learners, but there is no space available for more learners. The solution is that the department should provide more schools, if that is indeed the real problem. AfriForum believes, however, that the accommodation of more learners in these schools is just an excuse for the department’s ideological agenda to destroy Afrikaans schools.”

Bloem stressed that all learners have the right to quality education in their mother tongue. Practice has shown that after a while, double-medium schools usually become single-medium English schools; thus depriving learners of this right.

“AfriForum is ready to oppose the department’s transparent attack on Afrikaans with legal action, amongst others,” Bloem said.

The schools that are being targeted, include Afrikaans Hoër Meisieskool, Laerskool Pretoria-Oos, Laerskool Anton van Wouw and Hoërskool Menlopark.

Statement issued by Carien Bloem, AfriForum Campaign Coordinator: Education, April 22 2015