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Students’ perspectives on multilingualism at the UFS

28 September 2022 | Story Edzani Nephalela | Photo Edzani Nephalela

Swanti Jerry Thoka, former CSRC President and Actuarial Science student, expresses his questions and policy proposals during the questions-and-answers session.

Multilingualism is a buzzword at many South African universities. These universities promote social cohesion, a sense of belonging, and epistemic access and success by improving and advancing existing language policies and practices.

On 16 September 2022, the University of the Free State (UFS) had its first student discussion on the Bloemfontein Campus regarding the draft Language Policy, which is being reviewed for an updated version in 2023. With English being the primary language of teaching and learning, this policy aims to promote diversity in teaching and learning in Sesotho, isiZulu, Afrikaans, and Sign Language through translating tutorials and academic vocabulary and continuously establishing and maintaining trans-institutional, interinstitutional, and intra-institutional collaborations for the development of a translanguaging culture.

During the presentation, Dr Nomalungelo Ngubane, Director of the Academy for Multilingualism, revealed to students that the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) has designated a decade – from 2022 to 2032 – as the International Decade of Indigenous Languages. This guarantees that these languages are promoted and advanced enough to be utilised as academic languages in academia. "This puts pressure on the Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET) to recognise students' different languages in institutions. Section 29 of the South African Constitution further stipulates that we all have the right to learn in our preferred language, but only if it is practical. So currently, we cannot learn in these languages due to the lack of glossaries," Dr Ngubane said.

During the question-and-answer session, Swanti Jerry Thoka, a former Campus Student Representative Council (CSRC) President and Actuarial Science student, cited the policy. "The policy states that it will entail developing previously disadvantaged languages, which includes both indigenous languages and Sign Language, as well as continuing to improve existing ones. Why don't we concentrate on development because the current languages have advanced? For example, a Sign Language policy appears to exist, but it lacks a comprehensive execution strategy," Thoka said.

Dr Ngubane noted all the remarks and questions, and assured attendees that they would be addressed at the next Council meeting. She stressed the value of students’ participation in policymaking, since their future is being debated. She further explained that students should provide the SRC with recommendations to submit at the Council meetings, because the SRC are their elected representatives.

Dr Nomalungelo Ngubane, Director of the Academy for Multilingualism, presents the draft language policy at the Equitas, Bloemfontein Campus.
(Photo: Edzani Nephalela)

News Archive

Kovsies goes green

2012-08-22

The university will soon be hosting its first Green Festival that will focus on protecting and sustaining natural resources for current and future generations.

The aim of this festival is to demonstrate to students, learners and the broader community that any act, no matter how small, makes a difference and that each individual must play his or her role in creating a sustainable environment and caring for the earth.

Busi Madikizela, SRC member: Student Development and Environmental Affairs, said, “We have a moral obligation to do this as it not only teaches our students about sustainable living, but also sets an example for the communities that the university forms part of and serves.”

The festival takes place on Saturday, 8 September 2012 and will be filled with fun and games.

The university has invited Grade 9 to 11 learners from 41 schools around Bloemfontein to participate in cleaning up the city. The learners and Kovsie students will clean the streets around the Bloemfontein campus. The clean-up teams will meet on the campus in the vicinity of Mooimeisiesfontein, whereafter the rubbish collected will be sorted and taken to the Rat Race recycling company.

Other activities for the day include a Green Quiz that will help educate learners and students about green issues. Coca Cola will sponsor the prizes for the festival, as well as the food and drinks for all the learners invited to the festival. The learners will visits 20 stalls and exhibitions of sustainable green materials and organic food on the Red Square. Documentary movies with green themes on environmental issues will be screened.

Prof. Jonathan Jansen, Vice-Chancellor and Rector of the university, has urged everyone to participate in the Green Festival.

For more information contact Busi at 072 485 6796 or 051 401 9101.

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