isiXhosa now one of UCT's official languages
Additionally, the University of Cape Town's revised language policy identifies Afrikaaps (Kaaps), South African Sign Language (SASL) and Khoekhoegowab and N|uu as languages for development by UCT.
Picture: Facebook/Uct.ac.za
CapeTalk’s Sara-Jayne Makwala King spoke to Professor Lolie Makhubu-Badenhorst, UCT Director: Multilingual Education Project.
"Poor performance at universities is attributed to languages...language is a barrier..."
- Professor Lolie Makhubu-Badenhorst, UCT Director: Multilingual Education Project
The University of Cape Town (UCT) has revised its language policy.
isiXhosa will now, alongside English and Afrikaans, be an official language of the university.
UCT says the new policy encourages undergraduate students to take a course in isiXhosa communication if they do not already have proficiency in an indigenous South African language.
Additionally, the policy identifies Afrikaaps (Kaaps), South African Sign Language (SASL) and Khoekhoegowab and N|uu as languages for development by UCT.
"If we are only using the language that is foreign to the student, then the student can't access knowledge. Therefore then you might as well teach to the desk...because not all students can benefit or can hear your lecture or can communicate freely with you being the lecturer or can even access the services at the university..."
- Professor Lolie Makhubu-Badenhorst, UCT Director: Multilingual Education Project
Makhubu-Badenhorst says a lack of resources prevented the policy from being implemented sooner.
"Better late than never...What took so long is that there were not enough resources...in the past, there were no resources."
- Professor Lolie Makhubu-Badenhorst, UCT Director: Multilingual Education Project
According to UCT, the revised language policy aims to embrace South Africa's diverse languages in teaching, learning, and communication, thus ensuring broader access to education.
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