South Africa: School issues (2 articles)

[Harold F. Schiffman]

1. School must admit English kids
13/02/2007 18:04  - (SA)

Pretoria - The Afrikaans-medium Hoerskool Ermelo must admit
English-speaking pupils, a full bench of the Pretoria High Court ruled on
Tuesday. Transvaal Judge President Bernard Ngoepe, and Judges Willie
Seriti and Natvarial Ranchod in a five-minute ruling set aside an earlier
order by Judge Bill Prinsloo that suspended a decision that the school had
to admit English-speaking pupils.

Education Minister Naledi Pandor was also granted leave to intervene in a
review application by the school against the head of the Mpumalanga
education department's decision to replace the school's governing body
with a departmentally appointed committee. That committee then decided
that the school should become a parallel-medium school.

The review application will be heard at a later stage. The judges gave no
reasons for their ruling, but will provide written reasons at a later
stage.

http://www.news24.com/News24/South_Africa/News/0,,2-7-1442_2068738,00.html

2.   Most in SA prefer English 31/01/2007 07:53 - (SA)

Waldimar Pelser, Beeld


Johannesburg - The majority of South Africans prefer English and want it
as the only official language and dominant medium at school. But Afrikaans
speakers are more convinced than before that the taal will survive, and
for them the first prize is mother tongue instruction. Only 16% don't see
a future for their language. Those are some of the findings of the
FutureFact research firm in their 2006 survey on practically everything
that makes or breaks South Africans and makes them proud, or angry. The
survey of 2 600 South Africans revealed 75% support for English as a
compulsory subject at school.

Afrikaners are the only group with majority support for mother tongue
instruction, at 57%. Most see English as the lingua franca of the future
and want their children to study in English. Afrikaans speakers disagree,
thanks to a history of first language emphasis and excellent performance
in many areas, including sport.

Other results, compared with a year ago:

Is crime either the same, or worse? Yes, say 65%

Is corruption getting worse? Yes, 56%

Is the judiciary independent? Yes, 63%

Is the press free and effective? Yes, 77%

Mobility perceptions

One third thought they were in a higher class than their parents.

Nearly half saw themselves as middle class.

Nearly three quarters of young Afrikaners believe things are going better
with them than their parents.

One of the big winners among the youth is DA leader Tony Leon.

In 2000, only 16% between the ages of 16 and 24 said they trusted him.
That figure has nearly trebled, to 43%.

Former President Nelson Mandela still enjoys universal support - 92% of
the respondents trust him, while President Mbeki's trust factor is down
from 79% to 68%.

http://www.news24.com/News24/South_Africa/News/0,9294,2-7-1442_2062164,00.html

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