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Civil rights organisation AfriForum is pleased with the response to an urgent request sent to the Cape Peninsula University of Technology’s Vice Chancellor, Dr Prins Nevhutalu.  This request followed in response to complaints received from students who had been informed that they would be compelled to write their final exams in English, even though they have been studying Agriculture in Afrikaans on the Wellington Campus of this University for three years already.

In his letter, Dr Nevhutalu states that the language of instruction of the University is English, but that students of the Wellington Campus have been allowed to study in Afrikaans.  He also confirms that students who are busy with studies in Afrikaans, will be allowed to complete their exams in Afrikaans at the end of the year.  As of 2015, however, CPUT’s language policy will no longer make provision for Afrikaans.

According to Carien Bloem, Head of Education Campaigns at AfriForum the students are relieved by this news.  There no longer is any need to take legal steps against the University on their behalf either.  “AfriForum is grateful that their language rights are being respected, but we regret that Afrikaans will be phased out as language of instruction at CPUT from 2015,” Bloem added.  “We would like to discuss this decision with the University in more detail at a later stage.”

Issued by AfriForum