AfriForum describes language policy review process as a stain on UP’s name
31 May 2016
The language review process currently being followed by the University of Pretoria (UP), is considered by AfriForum as a stain the institution’s reputation as a seat of academic freedom and high-level academic thinking. This comment was made in response to media reports that a UP language work group virtually unanimously recommended that classes and exams at the university should in future be offered in English only. AfriForum was not part of this work group – although AfriForum Youth was part of it, they walked out after their efforts to provide input were ignored.
According to Alana Bailey, Deputy CEO of AfriForum, their position on the process is based on the following points, among others:
- UP’s Centre for Human Rights is unique in the country, with the inclusion of a course on language rights. It is incomprehensible that an institution which has the vision to promote these rights, will at the same time discriminate so blatantly against the language rights of a large portion of its student body.
- Like many other universities, the UP seems to succumb to ideological pressure and anarchist threats of violence – an approach that is not fitting for an institution that highly regards academic freedom and excellence.