Joseph kinsella the development of contemporary language policy in south africa. 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. Africa rsa, 1996a and the south african schools act sasa rsa, 1996b. Evidence on language and learning in south africa due to the high political profile of language policy and practice in south africa, as well as the work of a number of south african language scholars and researchoriented institutions, a number of important studies on language. Language rights in education in south africa mkhize. 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. Second epoch of colonial language policy after the second world war, there was a shift in the british colonial language policy which hurt. Fassets language policy adheres to the requirement of the use of official languages act, no. South africa is a multilingual society that has some unique linguistic problems because of its policy of apartheid.
The first chapter outlines the new constitutional context of multilingualism in south africa since the end of apartheid. What happens in south african schools is that children usually learn. The inherited language ineducation policy in south africa has been fraught with tensions, contradictions and sensitivities, and underpinned by racial and linguistic discrimination. After considering the relationship between status and. Multilingual education policy in south africa constrained. The language policy for stats sa is based on the following constitutional and legislative provisions. Language policies and practices in tanzania and south. Language policy and national unity in south africa azania. South african language policy, indigenous languages, isixhosa, medium of instruction, multilingualism. South african education may not work for the benefit of all native speakers of its multiple. In the past, the richness of our linguistic diversity was used as an instrument of control, oppression and exploitation. Language policy and oppression in south africa cultural. However, our languages have not always been working together. South africa is a country of many languages and tongues.
Without detracting from the provisions of subsection. 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 1997 emphasises the cognitive benefits of home language instruction and. 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. Multilingual education policy has been a controversial affair in south africa, especially over the last 60 years. Moreover, in south africa, the truth is that english is dominating and the government of south africa is promoting its use as a language of business, commerce and industry ndzimande and pampallis, 1992. Multilingualism in south africa 5 terms of communicative use. 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.
Additive bilingualism in the south african language ineducation policy. The 11 languages of south africa south africa gateway. This document is the language policy of st andrews school, as approved by the school governing body in july 2006 and adapted thereafter. In order to respond to this question, two language policy development documents need to be considered. South african journal of african languages national. Mother tongue debate and language policy in south africa. 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. 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. Basic education rights handbook education rights in. 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. Compulsory african language policy for schools in 2017. Tshivenda, sesotho, siswati, isixhosa, isindebele, sepedi, setswana, afrikaans, xitsonga, isizulu and english. Pdf this paper addresses the issues of language planning and implementation in south africa.
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. Maintaining the primordial language policy that is dominated by english and afrikaans is like putting new wine into old skins. Problems and challenges 1 birgit brockutne and halla b. National language policy framework final draft south. Since linguistic inclusiveness is espoused in the south african constitution and the national development plan, iial is intended to promote and develop south africa s previously marginalised african languages in schools. Pdf after the demise of apartheid in 1994, south africa adopted a new constitution that bolstered the image of indigenous african languages through a. While a good idea in theory, the language policy and situation in. The inherited languageineducation policy in south africa has been fraught with tensions, contradictions and sensitivities, and underpinned by racial and linguistic discrimination. Recent research conducted by governmentled and independent agencies shows declining student achievement within an education system that employs 11 home languages for education in the first three grades of primary school, followed by a transition to english medium for the. Draft language policy for statistics south africa 2016.
Pdf language planning, policy and implementation in south africa. I sincerely trust that all south africans will embrace this national language policy framework as their. The new language in education policy is conceived of as an integral and. In the postapartheid era, south africa has adopted a language policy that gives official status to 11 languages english, afrikaans, and nine bantu languages.
One of the perennial issues that arises when discussing south african education is our complex language policy. Apartheid where english and afrikaans were given a higher status at the expense of other languages and also to. A number of these discriminatory policies have affected either the access of the learners to the education system or their success within it. It recognised 11 official languages and stated that practical and positive. The report provides a critical evidence base for responding to the changing development context. The incremental introduction of african languages iial is a priority programme aimed at facilitating social cohesion. The impact of language policy and practice on childrens. The objective of the south african schools act act 84 of 1996 is to provide a strong foundation for the protection and advancement of the countrys diverse cultures and languages. Language policy and education in south africa springerlink. Language policy and planning in south africa annual.
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. Incremental introduction of african languages isasa. Pdf language policy implementation in south african universities. Language policy incongruity and african languages in. Section 6 of the constitution sets out specific measures to promote the official languages of south africa, against the. Perhaps more importantly, this investigation sought to answer a fundamental question of the role of lieps, in transforming inequitable educational systems that. This is the language to be used for teaching and learning in the school i. The new language in education policy is conceived of as an integral and necessary aspect of the new. The goal of the new policy is to facilitate social cohesion and promote inclusivity. After 30 years of seemingly immutable, topdown language policy in education in south africa, the early 1990s and the dismantling of apartheid have brought. At least thirtyfive languages indigenous to south africa are spoken in the republic, ten of which are official languages of south africa.
Multilingualism in south africa university of kwazulunatal. B 1987, language policy in african education in south africa, 191085, with particular reference to the issue of medium of instruction, in d. Language policy and education in multilingual 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. The university will continue to embrace and encourage multilingualism to foster unity and to provide equal opportunities to speakers of all south african languages, it said. Issues in the making of south africa s language in education policy thobeka v. 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. However, for many of them, indian languages hold symbolic value. Its history and problems introduction since its creation as a british colony, south africa has been home to a. The former department of education adopted the language in education policy liep in 1997, and further clarified this policy in the revised national curriculum statement ncs of 2002. National language policy framework department of arts and culture.
Language in education policy department of basic education. Language policies and practices in tanzania and south africa. Language policy and national unity in south africaazania. Language planning, policy and implementation in south africa. The 6,855,082 south africans who speak afrikaans as a first language make up. The language policy has been drafted in accordance with the provisions of the constitution of south africa, act 108 of 1996. How language policy can improve student performance. 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. Ndebele, northern sotho, sotho, siswati, tsonga, tswana, venda, xhosa, zulu and afrikaans. Various different languages are used in south africa, but in the 1996 constitution, 11 languages were made the ofcial. Afrikaans became an official language in south africa with the official languages of the union act of 1925, which retroactively dated the language s official status to 1910.
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. Mixed reactions to new university language policies. On one level, there are tensions between its two official language groups, afrikaans and english. The eleventh official language is south african english. 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. Section 6 of this act empowers school governing bodies to determine the language policy of schools within guidelines set nationally and on provincial level. Constitution of the republic of south africa, 1996 section 61 which afforded the official status to all 11 languages, namely.
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