<div dir="ltr"><div class="gmail-article_header">
<div class="gmail-article_details">
<h1 class="gmail-bold">Pretoria University 'can't redress the past if language policy stays'
</h1></div></div><div class="gmail-col300 gmail-right"><div class="gmail-cxense_container"><div id="gmail-cx_953b93f14c77900c2010e0dc1226375c7c1b1536" class="gmail-cxsense_related"><div><div class="gmail-item">
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<div id="gmail-relatedlinks_box">
<div class="gmail-left"><h5 id="gmail-Relatedheader" class="gmail-bold">Related Links</h5></div>
<ul><li class="gmail-bold"><a href="http://www.news24.com/SouthAfrica/News/pretoria-university-to-continue-with-limited-programme-despite-protests-20161031">Pretoria University to continue with limited programme, despite protests</a></li><li class="gmail-bold"><a href="http://www.news24.com/SouthAfrica/News/our-courses-are-already-being-taught-in-english-up-vice-chancellor-20160225">Our courses are already being taught in English - UP vice chancellor</a></li><li class="gmail-bold"><a href="http://www.news24.com/SouthAfrica/News/afriforum-pledges-to-protect-tuks-afrikaans-students-20160222">AfriForum pledges to protect Tuks Afrikaans students </a></li></ul>
</div>
</div>
<article id="gmail-article-body" class="gmail-clr_left"><p>Pretoria - The
University of Pretoria (UP) won't be able to redress the past if the
institution is expected to retain its current language policy.</p><p>That was one of the arguments put forward in the High Court in Pretoria by Advocate Gilbert Marcus, for the university, <a href="http://www.netwerk24.com/Nuus/Onderwys/up-kan-verlede-nie-herstel-as-sy-taalbeleid-bly-20161201" target="_blank">Netwerk24 </a>reported.</p><p>"Our shared values underpinning the Constitution can't be achieved when one group almost always wants its demands met," he said.</p><p>Rights organisation AfriForum and trade union Solidarity want UP's new language policy set aside.</p><p>In
terms of the new policy, approved on June 22, English will, as of next
year, become the primary language of instruction. Students who started
their courses in Afrikaans will, however, be allowed to finish them in
that language. </p><p>Afrikaans will still be used in the faculties of education and theology. </p><p>Afrikaans
and North Sotho will be supported as academic languages, with students
allowed to discuss study material in study groups in these languages. </p><p><strong>'Oppression of Afrikaners'</strong></p><p>Marcus said the university wasn't targeting Afrikaans students or the language.</p><p>About
18% of the students had indicated that they preferred Afrikaans as the
academic language. Marcus said they had an advantage because the classes
were smaller. </p><p>Advocate Gretha Engebrecht, for AfriForum and
Solidarity, said if the university was going to redress the past, it
should include the oppression of Afrikaners. </p><p>"Our history also includes, and I'm not saying for a moment it was to the same extent, oppression of Afrikaners by the English."</p><p>Advocate
Johan du Toit, also for AfriForum and Solidarity, said the language
policy was unconstitutional. He said it was possible to offer tuition in
both English and Afrikaans without it costing the university more
money. </p><p>"Everyone wanting to study in English can do so."</p><p>Du Toit said if English was the only language at UP, it would affect promoting other languages.</p><p>Judgment was reserved.</p><p><a href="http://www.news24.com/SouthAfrica/News/pretoria-university-cant-redress-the-past-if-language-policy-stays-20161202">http://www.news24.com/SouthAfrica/News/pretoria-university-cant-redress-the-past-if-language-policy-stays-20161202</a><br></p></article><br clear="all"><br>-- <br><div class="gmail_signature">**************************************<br>N.b.: Listing on the lgpolicy-list is merely intended as a service to its members<br>and implies neither approval, confirmation nor agreement by the owner or sponsor of the list as to the veracity of a message's contents. Members who disagree with a message are encouraged to post a rebuttal, and to write directly to the original sender of any offensive message. A copy of this may be forwarded to this list as well. (H. Schiffman, Moderator)<br><br>For more information about the lgpolicy-list, go to <a href="https://groups.sas.upenn.edu/mailman/" target="_blank">https://groups.sas.upenn.edu/mailman/</a><br>listinfo/lgpolicy-list<br>*******************************************</div>
</div>