​Joint statement by the Stellenbosch University management and senior educationalists

Against the backdrop of Stellenbosch University's (SU) new Language Policy, senior educationalists and the Management of the University are planning to create spaces for conversations on the academic success of specifically Afrikaans-speaking students from historically disadvantaged backgrounds in a multilingual higher education institution.

The management of the SU and educationalists met to discuss the new Language Policy, which will come into effect in 2017. This is the background to the issuing of the following joint statement:

The SU management and educationalists will form a partnership of mutual trust and cooperation to create spaces for discussions on student success, among other things, in the context of multilingualism for a diversity of students. Afrikaans-speaking students from historically advantaged backgrounds are specifically included in this initiative.

SU and educationalists are jointly committed to realising the strategic objectives of SU, as expressed in the SU's Institutional Intent and Strategy, which are access and success, excellence through diversity, inclusivity and being future focused and innovative.

Going forward, the US will strive to support multilingualism in South Africa's multilingual society.

During their discussion, the group confirmed the objectives of the Language Policy: to ensure equitable student success for a diversity of students, specifically Afrikaans-speaking students from socio-economically disadvantaged backgrounds. These students should also have an equal chance to study successfully at SU.

Meetings are planned with various groups of principals at schools with a significant number of Afrikaans-speaking learners. The aim is to discuss and clarify the new Language Policy and to address any ambiguities or misconceptions.

Some of the questions that will be discussed during the proposed meetings are:

• Is there indeed an equitable chance of success for Afrikaans-speaking students from historically disadvantaged backgrounds?
• What monitoring mechanisms should be in place to ensure that the prospect of equitability of success can be realised in practice?
• What is being done to ensure that the status of Afrikaans as a science language is maintained in a multilingual context?
• What is being done to support the development of isiXhosa in a multilingual context?

The educationalists in the partnership have emphasised that they are not taking part in this important process with SU Management on behalf of Kans in Afrikaans.

Issued on behalf of:

Prof Wim de Villiers: Rector and Vice-Chancellor of Stellenbosch University ([email protected])

Mr Danie van Wyk:  on behalf of the educationalists ([email protected])