The University of Free State’s SRC said on Monday that a change to the institution's language policy would inspire unity among students of different races.
In a statement issued on Friday, the university's council said English would be the primary medium of instruction at undergraduate and postgraduate level on the three campuses situated in Bloemfontein and Qwaqwa.
The council also said multilingualism will be supported among other activities by an expanded tutorial system especially designed for first-year students.
The change in the language policy was undoubtedly a necessary one, Student Representative Council president Lindokuhle Ntuli told News24.
"This is the kind of change we have been advocating. We have witnessed division and racial debacles under the parallel medium,” Ntuli said.
He said they have been calling for language policy to be changed.
“There has always been a substantial compromise made by the black majority. Black students are also proud of their African languages and would of course want to be taught in their respective mother tongues but that would be impractical with the 11 official languages...the change inspires unity amongst the students of different races.”
Judge Ian van der Merwe, chairperson of the UFS council said the change was a major step forward for the university.
"I commend [the] council for the constructive and positive manner in which the discussion took place,” said Van der Merwe.
Source: News 24
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