policy
4 September 2006
The Minister of Education today confirmed that she had received a report on
âmultilingualism in higher education institutionsâ.
Referring to an article in the Rapport headlined âState, academics
criticised about own languagesâ (3 September), Minister Pandor said that she
had met with Vice Chancellors on a number of occasions to discuss the use of
indigenous languages at higher education institutions.
Following the conclusion of the Ministerial Committee into the promotion of
indigenous languages as mediums of instruction in higher education (the Ndebele
report), the Minister has held formal and informal discussions with Vice
Chancellors on the importance of promoting multilingualism rather than
bilingualism in universities.
Answering a recent question in Parliament (OQ 101 16 August 2006), Minister
Pandor said, âOur intention is to develop all languages so they can be used as
languages of learning and teaching. In addition, we have focused on the
revitalisation of the teaching of indigenous languages in universities, to
increase the number of students taking them and also to increase the pool of
teachers with the necessary depth of understanding to teach in these
languages.â
Enquiries:
Lunga Ngqengelele
Tel: (012) 312 5538
Cell: 082 566 0446
E-mail: ngqengelele.l@doe.gov.za
Issued by: Department of Education
4 September 2006
