UFS NEW LANGUAGE POLICY STOKES THE FIRES OF RACE RELATIONS

A daily newspaper recently reported that the Council of the University of the Free State (UFS) had resolved that English would be the main language of instruction. The effect of the resolution precludes students the option of learning in Afrikaans. In the past I have corresponded with Professor Jonathan Jansen, Vice-Chancellor of UFS on educational issues. He has written extensively on the plight of education in South Africa, and his recommendations have been thought provoking and highly relevant to improving South Africa's educational system. Concerned by the Council's decision I wrote to Professor Jansen to express my disappointment. In doing so, I said, in part:, "What possessed the university Council to succumb the the forces of radicalism and ignorance? What is more distressing is a report that the Council was unanimous in its decision - not even one solitary voice having the intestinal fortitude to vote his/ her conscience". I pointed out to Professor Jansen that Pretoria University (TUKS) had accorded equal dignity to both English and Afrikaans as mediums of instruction. In doing so, neither English or Afrikaans would be thrust upon students lacking fluency in one or the other language, and UFS should do the same. Moreover, I posited that the UFS new language policy was unconstitutional, and would not survive a court challenge. Professor Jansen responded to my letter in no uncertain terms by stating, in part: "The Council is obviously not a bunch of idiots who just happen to have a different view from your own. There was comprehensive process of consultation with staff and students, inside and outside the university, and countless "hearings" on the subject. Your rather curt dismissal of the decision as giving in to 'forces of radicalism and ignorance' is not only dead wrong, it smacks of arrogance". With due respect to Professor Jansen he is dead wrong. Balancing the needs of students to receive instruction in an official language of preference is set in constitutional stone - it is a fundamental right. Balance is not achieved through a one language policy. It simply does not pass constitutional muster. FSU has had its share of escalating student violence and deteriorating race relations. As recently as last month classes were suspended after Varsity Cup clashes. If, because of student protest and violence, the Council decided to institute a one language policy to placate the forces of radicalism and ignorance, it has concurrently created a recipe for further needless polarisation between competing interests. FSU's one language policy is an obstacle that unnecessarily inhibits the transformation paradigm, and will impede rather than facilitate the process. Surely a fair solution to the language issue is a dual one - both English and Afrikaans as equal mediums of instruction. Professor Jansen, even if my dismissal of the Council's decision "smacks of arrogance", I urge the Council to reverse its decision to prevent the real prospect of further escalating violence. I do hope the Council will reconsider its decision, rather than hearing more telling words from me in the context of "I told you so".