DAFF Will Holistically Implement the Language Policy at GATI

MEDIA RELEASE

IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Date: 12 May 2010

Implementation of language policy at GrootfonteinCollege of Agriculture

PRETORIA: The Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (DAFF) wishes to express regret at the strike organised by AfriForum Youth at the Middelburg campus of the Grootfontein College of Agriculture regarding language policy issues.

Prior to 2009, a dual method of language delivery was practised at the college with all students attending the same classes and the lecturer using both English and Afrikaans. Between January to March 2009, it became apparent that English-speaking students were not satisfied with this dual method of instruction as those who do not understand Afrikaans basically miss almost one half of the lectures presented. Subsequently, the University of North West was contracted to develop a new language policy for the college, which they presented in November 2009. Divergent student groups, such as the South African Students Congress (Sasco) and AfriForum, failed to agree on the implementation of this policy following several meetings.

The policy promotes functional multilingualism, and recognises English and Afrikaans as the primary languages of tuition with isiXhosa as supportive language. From this premise, a decision was taken to introduce translation from English to Afrikaans and from Afrikaans to English to accommodate the language proficiency of both the students and lecturers. This is the current arrangement at the institution.

The DAFF is convinced that all student groups at Grootfontein have welcomed the translation service, which will be assessed periodically to check its efficacy, although not all agreed on how it should be used in practice.

As a way forward, the DAFF will, at all times, avoid a scenario where language becomes a tool to exclude potential students to access services at Grootfontein and other agricultural training institutes. Within this context, the DAFF will formally engage all stakeholders at Grootfontein to find amicable solutions to the effective implementation of the language policy which will, among others, provide guidance on how both English and Afrikaans will be implemented as primary languages of tuition and ensure that it is as inclusive as possible.

Following a recent agreement with the Department of Higher Education on Colleges of Agriculture, the DAFF will proceed to draft the Agricultural Training Institute Bill to deal with issues such as effective governance, financial models as well as language and admission issues.

For more information, contact:

Noncedo Vutula

Chief Director: Communication and Information

Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries

Tel: 012 319 7348

Cell: 082 523 4904

e-mail:

Web: