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The Senate of Stellenbosch University (SU), the institution's highest academic body, accepted a recommendation from the Academic Planning Committee, a subcommittee of the Senate, on 19 March, that for the first semester of 2021 there be a deviation from faculties’ language implementation plans, in the sense that lecturers only have to make new learning material available in English, and not also in Afrikaans as stipulated in the current SU Language Policy (2016).

It is important to note that this decision only applies to the first semester of 2021, specifically due to the additional workload caused by the shift to more online tuition because of COVID-19. For the same reason, the same deviation was granted for the second semester of 2020.

Also important, is that it only affects new learning material. Lecturers will still be able to provide existing learning material that already exists in Afrikaans to students.

The recommendation refers to the practical reality that there are time constraints to record learning materials such as podcasts in both English and Afrikaans. What has also been approved, however, is that lecturers are strongly advised to continue using the SU Language Centre to translate their English podcasts into Afrikaans where practically feasible.

(The Language Committee of Council last year noted with appreciation the online initiatives of the Language Centre specifically focused on the promotion of multilingualism during emergency remote teaching. Despite many challenges, there have been great successes, which have been well received by staff and students alike. These include the translation of podcasts, online consultations by the Writing Lab, and innovative new online courses and digital marketing amidst COVID-19.)

Furthermore, the approved recommendation states that lecturers should still continue to support students in other forms of learning facilitation, such as online discussion forums and e-mails, through not only English but also Afrikaans, as required by the relevant module specifications.

What is not affected by this recommendation is assessments. This will still be done in both English and Afrikaans for all undergraduate modules. In other words, students will still be able to submit their assignments in Afrikaans if they wish, and will also be able to write tests and examinations in Afrikaans.

The recommendation has nothing to do with the review of SU’s Language Policy. Click here for more on that process.