The University of Stellenbosch. (Archive photo: SU)
Stellenbosch University’s (SU) executive convocation management is concerned that the university’s draft language policy for 2026 could further water down Afrikaans and isiXhosa’s practical role as academic languages of instruction.
In commenting on the draft policy, the convocation management says that it supports the principle of multilingualism, provided it leads to real equality. He warns, however, that in the current formulation English is increasingly treated as the only guaranteed default language, while Afrikaans and isiXhosa are made dependent on conditions such as “reasonable practicability”.
According to the convocation, Afrikaans was until recently “fully feasible” at SU, and its downsizing also creates concern about the future of isiXhosa as an academic language at the university.
The convocation believes that the draft policy does recognize that language is closely linked to identity and values, but warns that any official language that is only used as a supporting or supplementary language places its speakers in a second-rate position.
“All languages are equal, but English is clearly more equal than others at SU,” says Dr. Theo de Jager, president of SU’s executive convocation management.
He says the repeated use of the term “reasonably feasible” without clear and objective measures, goals or outcomes is worrying.
“In practice, this means that English is guaranteed, while the survival of other languages may only exist in marketing materials. If this principle is retained, it should be accompanied by clear, measurable criteria to prevent it being used as a mechanism to systematically scale back mother tongue education.”
The convocation says it supports the responsible use of information and communication technology, including artificial intelligence (AI), but believes AI should be used to promote language equality and not to further strengthen monolingualism.
According to the convocation, the technological capability already exists to give students access to quality notes, assessments and academic material in their mother tongue.
Afrikaans and isiXhosa should not be simply translated versions of English source material, but full-fledged academic languages in which original content is developed.
The convocation management is also concerned about the policy’s approach to multilingual classrooms, where all content is at least conveyed in English and other languages are often only used for summaries or explanations. According to the convocation, this reduces Afrikaans’ role from a full-fledged teaching language to a supporting language.
De Jager believes that parallel medium teaching remains, where student numbers and resources allow, the most responsible way to ensure real language equality and academic access.
The convocation further states that the provision that English will be the default language for various administrative, digital and external communication processes can accelerate institutional monolingualism. “This automatic fallback to English accelerates the trend of institutional monolingualism. The University should only purchase or develop new technological systems and platforms if they can support multilingual functionality and promote equality.”
The convocation also believes that the proposed monitoring mechanisms do not provide sufficient independent oversight. He calls on the university to establish an independent monitoring or audit mechanism that reports annually on the implementation of the language policy and the actual relationship between Afrikaans, English and isiXhosa offerings.
According to the convocation, SU has the opportunity to be a world-class institution that builds its international reputation precisely on its multilingual character. He requests that the final language policy include clear, binding and measurable protection measures for Afrikaans, so that it can continue to exist as a full-fledged and equal academic language.