In the past, the richness of our linguistic diversity was used as an instrument of control, oppression and exploitation. Language policy and planning in south africa annual. In the postapartheid era, south africa has adopted a language policy that gives official status to 11 languages english, afrikaans, and nine bantu languages. South african language policy after majority rule the constitution of the new south africa was adopted in 1996 and section 6 of chapter 1 founding provisions laid down the principles of policy as to language. Pan south african language board means the board established in terms of 30 section 2. What happens in south african schools is that children usually learn. Mda, university of south africa this article argues that, to be truly understood, south africa s new language in education policy liep must be examined in the context of both historical and recent developments. It generally appears that the official language of a country is the one in which the laws of the country are made and publicised, whereas the national language is. Compulsory african language policy for schools in 2017. Language policies in african education bowdoin college. I sincerely trust that all south africans will embrace this national language policy framework as their. Language policy and national unity in south africa azania. Language policy and oppression in south africa cultural.
Language planning, policy and implementation in south africa. Academic involvement in language policy and planning in south africa must be seen within the context of the countrys sociolinguistic complexity and the relationship between language and a number of serious problems in the country. National language policy framework 2003 diversity and to the challenges of constitutional multilingualism, hence the introduction of this national language policy framework. Mother tongue debate and language policy in south africa. National language policy framework final draft south. The language policy has been drafted in accordance with the provisions of the constitution of south africa, act 108 of 1996. An international language like french or english, a vestige of colonialism, carries prestige, is used in higher education, and promises mobilityand yet it will not be well known by its users. However, our languages have not always been working together.
Issues in the making of south africa s language in education policy thobeka v. Draft policy on the incremental introduction of african languages in south african schools in september 20, the national department of basic education released. There was no allowance made for the possible influences of different interlocutors in the home. In order to respond to this question, two language policy development documents need to be considered. Languages iial in south african schools 20 policy and its impact on the teaching and learning of sals. Recent developments in language planning, policy and implementation in south africa have led to a view that language policy is a text that is in a constant state of productivity, and it is always. As we shall see in the next chapter, their idea of a nation is based on the experience of certain european peoples in the 18th and l9th centuries. The authors of the present article are engaged in a research project funded by the norwegian research council. Introduction because of the multilingual character of most colonially defined states in africa and elsewhere and because of the intuitive policies of imperialist powers, the languages of europe, specifically. Section 6 of the constitution sets out specific measures to promote the official languages of south africa, against the.
This is the language to be used for teaching and learning in the school i. Executive summary since the attainment of democracy in south africa in 1994, a number of legislative policy documents and frameworks on what should guide language practices in higher education. Multilingualism in south africa university of kwazulunatal. It recognised 11 official languages and stated that practical and positive. The impact of language policy and practice on childrens learning argues that improved evidence, networking, south to south learning and advocacy are going to be crucial to create a focus on mothertongue education environments. There was also the case of south africa, where the ruling afrikaaner nationalist party enforced a language policy that was aimed at developing their language as the lingua franca, language of.
On another level, there are linguistic tensions between the ethnic europeans and the black majority, mostly in regard to language instruction in schools. Gauteng schools will be spearheading a new language policy in 2017 that will make it compulsory for all grade 1 pupils to take an african language as a second additional language subject. Draft language policy for statistics south africa 2016. In july 2001, the council submitted its advice to the minister in a report entitled language policy framework for south african higher education. The incremental introduction of african languages in south african schools. The eleventh official language is south african english. The report provides a critical evidence base for responding to the changing development context. The uj language policy is informed by the constitution of the republic of south africa act act 108 of 1996, the higher education act act 101 of 1997, the language policy for higher education 2003, the use of official languages act, 2012 act 12 of 2012, the. This followed the decision of cabinet in 1999 to prioritise the development of a language framework for higher education. Language policies and practices in tanzania and south. B 1987, language policy in african education in south africa, 191085, with particular reference to the issue of medium of instruction, in d. Language policies and practices in tanzania and south africa. For those who arent from south africa, we have 11 official languages afrikaans, english, isindebele, isixhosa, isizulu, sesotho sa leboa, sesotho, setswana, siswati, tshivenda, and xitsonga.
The inherited languageineducation policy in south africa has been fraught with tensions. Pdf after the demise of apartheid in 1994, south africa adopted a new constitution that bolstered the image of indigenous african languages through a. The essays inlanguages in africaexplore the layers of african multilingualism as they affect language policy and education. Submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements of the degree. Without detracting from the provisions of subsection. National language policy framework department of arts and culture. The south african constitution upholds the right of all children to receive education in the official language or languages of their choice and the national language in education policy. South african education may not work for the benefit of all native speakers of its multiple. The basic question an evaluation of language policy development in south africa thus has to answer is how the country has set out to achieve these ideals. How language policy can improve student performance. Legislation and policies education in south africa is governed by the following key policies and legislation. One of the perennial issues that arises when discussing south african education is our complex language policy.
The language policy for stats sa is based on the following constitutional and legislative provisions. Language of instruction policy and practice in africa. Its history and problems introduction since its creation as a british colony, south africa has been home to a. While a good idea in theory, the language policy and situation in. Introduction this paper is on mothertongue education and the south african sa language policy which was introduced after 1994 when south africa became a democratic country. The impact of language policy and practice on childrens. Ndebele, northern sotho, sotho, siswati, tsonga, tswana, venda, xhosa, zulu and afrikaans. Section 6 of the constitution of the republic of south africa, 1996, provides the backdrop to this policy and lists the official languages of south africa to be sepedi, sesotho, setswana, siswati, tshivenda, xitsonga, afrikaans, english, isindebele, isixhosa and. Language policy and education in south africa springerlink.
Basic education rights handbook education rights in. Language in education policy department of basic education. The fundamental policy framework of the ministry of basic education is stated in the ministrys firstwhite paper on education and training in a democratic south africa. Definitions act the use of official languages act, 2012 act no. Language policy and education in multilingual south africa. Joseph kinsella the development of contemporary language policy in south africa. Thus, the research also seeks to establish strategies that could be implemented in order to ensure the revitalisation and rejuvenation of african languages so that all the languages take their rightful place. Language policy and national unity in south africaazania. Various, and often divergent, language policies were introduced by the portuguese, french, spanish and british colonial powers. South african school education system for the 21st century. Multilingualism and the language curriculum in south. Constitution of the republic of south africa, 1996 section 61 which afforded the official status to all 11 languages, namely.
National policy for the provision and management of learning and teaching. A number of these discriminatory policies have affected either the access of the learners to the education system or their success within it. In this project the language policies of tanzania and south africa, as well as the practices of these policies in the classroom are. South africa is a country of many languages and tongues. The research project takes a hard look into the attitudes or perceptions of speakers of african languages towards the new language policy of south africa. Education labour relations council elrc policy handbook for educators.
The new language in education policy is conceived of as an integral and. A host of other relevant data, such as data on reported proficiency and dominance in the various languages, has never been collected at all. Apartheid where english and afrikaans were given a higher status at the expense of other languages and also to. Fassets language policy adheres to the requirement of the use of official languages act, no. It also serves as a foundation for the draft policy on the incremental introduction of african languages in south african schools. Problems and challenges 1 birgit brockutne and halla b. Maintaining the primordial language policy that is dominated by english and afrikaans is like putting new wine into old skins. South african language policy, indigenous languages, isixhosa, medium of instruction, multilingualism. The inherited language ineducation policy in south africa has been fraught with tensions, contradictions and sensitivities, and underpinned by racial and linguistic discrimination. At least thirtyfive languages indigenous to south africa are spoken in the republic, ten of which are official languages of south africa. Tshivenda, sesotho, siswati, isixhosa, isindebele, sepedi, setswana, afrikaans, xitsonga, isizulu and english. Pdf language policy implementation in south african universities. South africa is a multilingual society that has some unique linguistic problems because of its policy of apartheid. On one level, there are tensions between its two official language groups, afrikaans and english.
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