Earlier this week it was announced that the future medium of instruction at the world renowned college would only be English, but this decision was reversed later this week.
Minority rights group AfriForum Youth said in a statement indicating that that English will not be the only medium of instruction as earlier indicated. That decision was overturned on Friday during a meeting of senior college officials. Both Afrikaans and English were reintroduced as mediums of instruction.
Henk Maree, who is the National Chairman of AfriForum Youth said although they are happy about the decision, concerns remain about the absence of a decision-making process that can be followed for important decisions like these. He is also concerned that no steps have been taken against the students who were the leaders of an illegal march – apparently against Afrikaans as medium of learning.
About 14 Elsenburg students took part in the march under the leadership of Sibelo Nkobo, a member of the student council. The protesters disrupted many classes and deprived other students of their right to education.
‘So far management has not acted against the students at all. What is even worse, is that Sibelo Nkobo has to represent all students in meetings while it is clear that he has a political agenda,’ said Maree.
Darryl Jacobs, Acting Deputy Director General of Agricultural Development and Support Services in the Western Cape, instructed in a letter that all future education should take place in English only. “There was no consultation with any party. The Department was also very fast, perhaps too fast, to make such a drastic decision without any investigation,’ said Maree.
Earlier this week AfriForum Youth had sent a letter to the college demanding that the decision to use English as the only medium of instruction is reversed or they would take further steps. ‘Many members of AfriForum Youth actively cooperated this week to oppose the ill-considered decision of the department. We will monitor the situation closely because we are convinced that this week was only a prelude of what lies ahead,’ said Maree.