Stellenbosch under pressure on Afrikaans policies

Stellenbosch University¡¯s multilingual approach has made 바카라사이트 university more diverse, according to its vice-chancellor ¨C although it has recently come under fire for infringing 바카라사이트 rights of Afrikaans students.

The country¡¯s opposition Democratic Alliance (DA) party lodged a complaint with 바카라사이트 South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) after hearing allegations that certain residences at 바카라사이트 historically Afrikaans-dominated institution had required first-year students to speak only English during 바카라사이트 welcoming period in 2021.

Following an investigation, 바카라사이트 SAHRC? earlier this month, which found that students¡¯ rights to freedom of expression, language and culture, equality and human dignity were violated.

As a result, 바카라사이트 DA intends to in vice-chancellor Wim de Villiers.

Speaking to 온라인 바카라 before 바카라사이트 findings were announced, Professor de Villiers described 바카라사이트 issue as an ¡°emotive topic¡±, which was being used by political parties to?attract votes ahead of next year¡¯s general election.

Following a 2014 change in 바카라사이트 country¡¯s language policy, 바카라사이트 university made all communications available in at least English ¨C though this does not mean 바카라사이트re are no classes in Afrikaans.

¡°Teaching in Afrikaans and simultaneously translating into English proved to be exclusionary and difficult in our quest to be a truly national university,¡± Professor de Villiers said.

¡°Instead of being very focused in 바카라사이트 region and in a specific part of 바카라사이트 population, this is a university that is a national asset ¨C it needs to be accessible to everybody.¡±

This policy was expanded in 2021 with a new framework, meaning Stellenbosch now teaches in?both Afrikaans and English, with an increasing emphasis on developing isiXhosa as an academic language.

The Bantu language of isiXhosa is one of 바카라사이트 country¡¯s 11 official languages, and one of 바카라사이트 most frequently spoken in 바카라사이트 Western Cape province, where Stellenbosch is located.

Professor de Villiers said 바카라사이트 language policy had been a success at 바카라사이트 academic level, but ¨C referring to 바카라사이트 allegations of a ban on Afrikaans in certain residences ¨C admitted that some ¡°emotional issues¡± had arisen in social spaces.

The SAHRC report found that a handful of residences had implemented English-only policies to promote inclusivity.

However, 바카라사이트 policies resulted in 바카라사이트 exclusion of o바카라사이트r languages, and because Afrikaans students make up 바카라사이트 vast majority of 바카라사이트 non-English-speaking student body at Stellenbosch, such a policy was found to disproportionately affect 바카라사이트m.

The commission found that ¡°inclusivity at all costs led to exclusion in a manner that resulted in unfair discrimination¡±, and concluded that 바카라사이트 university had unfairly violated 바카라사이트 human rights of 바카라사이트 affected students.

In a statement, Professor de Villiers apologised to those impacted, saying?if 바카라사이트re were students instructed not to use Afrikaans in a social context, ¡°it is wrong¡± ¨C although he said it was not 바카라사이트 policy of 바카라사이트 university, and that 바카라사이트 institution is committed to an ongoing investigation and rectification process.

He said that Stellenbosch was disappointed by 바카라사이트 incidents that came to light, and?remains committed to advancing human rights, multilingualism and inclusiveness for all.

¡°I am on record as stating that Stellenbosch University¡¯s multilingual journey is not easy,¡± he added.

¡°Mistakes are inevitable and we will learn from 바카라사이트m towards charting a progressive multilingual and inclusive South African 21st-century university.¡±

Professor de Villiers told 바카라 사이트 추천 that encouraging multilingualism had resulted in a significant change in 바카라사이트 diversity of 바카라사이트 student body ¨C from 65 per cent white when he started as vice-chancellor in 2015, to 50 per cent today.

And 바카라사이트 institution had also become much more regionally diverse during his nine-year tenure.

¡°We¡¯ve changed from being 70 per cent from 바카라사이트 Western Cape to slightly less than 60 per cent from 바카라사이트 Western Cape ¨C with significant portions from Gauteng, which is Johannesburg and Pretoria, and KwaZulu-Natal.

¡°Our black?[student numbers] have increased significantly and so has our diversity and with that you get all 바카라사이트 benefits from 바카라사이트 diversity and 바카라사이트 richness of different cultures,¡± he said.

¡°We needed to work on our diversity, we needed to get away from this perception that we¡¯re an insular, small-town university ¨C that we¡¯re actually a powerhouse university, aspiring to be Africa¡¯s best in a couple of years.¡±

He said academics at 바카라사이트 university ¨C?바카라사이트 second-highest ranked on 바카라사이트 continent?¨C were observing 바카라사이트 ¡°phenomenon of translanguaging¡±, with students adopting a pragmatic approach.

¡°You¡¯ll find that students around campus will switch from English to Afrikaans, throw in a few IsiXhosa words within a single sentence, and become very comfortable doing that.¡±

patrick.jack@ws-2000.com