Language uproar at UFS continues: Students complain about English instruction and are being victimised

AfriForum Youth received complaints from students out of various faculties of the University of the Free State (UFS) that classes which were originally available in Afrikaans, are increasingly only being presented in English. This follows despite the verdict of the high court on 21 July 2016 against the UFS’s newly accepted language policy – stipulating clearly that multilingual education must be promoted by the UFS – and despite the fact that the current language policy still caters for Afrikaans education.

The UFS is intending to appeal against the court verdict. An interim application by AfriForum, AfriForum Youth and Solidarity to resist the implementation of the 2017 newly accepted policy will soon be heard in the high court.

“The University continues to implement their intended language policy, while the old policy is still valid and even before the appeal has been heard and finalised. Personnel intimidate students who question the anglicisation of classes,” said Ju-Mari Pretorius, AfriForum Youth’s Campus Coordinator at the UFS.

Pretorius also adds that lecturers make sophistry arguments toward students such as if you can watch an English film, you might as well conquer education in English.

AfriForum Youth wants to investigate this – as well as other complaints – further, and urges students to report any incidents of classes suddenly being presented in English only, or students that are being intimidated to not request Afrikaans education. Report these incidents with the youth organisation at http://afriforumjeug.co.za/kovsies-2017-taalbeleid/.

Members of the community can support AfriForum Youth’s campaign by sending an SMS with “Afrikaans” to 32687 (R1).