AfriForum prepares for legal action to save Afrikaans as medium of instruction at the UFS
8 March 2016
The civil rights organisation AfriForum is currently preparing for legal action to preserve Afrikaans as language of instruction at the University of the Free State (UFS). This follows after it had become known that the Senate of this University yesterday voted in favour of a proposed language policy that will phase out Afrikaans as language of instruction. The Senate’s recommendation will be presented on Friday for final approval by the University Council.
According to Alana Bailey, Deputy CEO of AfriForum, AfriForum warned the Senate and the Management of the UFS in legal correspondence both on 26 February and 4 March 2016 that AfriForum will take legal action to protect Afrikaans students’ language rights if the University will continue to phase out Afrikaans as language of instruction.
In light of the sensitivity of language issues in the country and the current tension on the Bloemfontein campus, Management was also requested to put the reviewing of the language policy provisionally on ice until tempers cool down. The UFS can then make informed, reasoned and objective decisions – taking into account inputs from independent experts – that will be in the best interest of the University and its community as a whole.
“The Senate’s decision shows a lack of leadership and insight into the meaning of language rights as embodied in the Constitution. It seems that they rather bow to ideological pressure than to take a stand to promote proven best practices such as multilingualism and mother-language education. AfriForum feels strongly about not depriving Afrikaans students of their right to mother-language education, and feels that the University should rather strive to give more students access to mother-language education. Depending on the outcome of the Council’s decision on Friday, we will take legal action to protect Afrikaans as language of instruction at the UFS,” Bailey concluded.
Statement issued by Alana Bailey, Deputy CEO: Heritage Affairs, AfriForum, 8 March 2016
