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 “If the amalgamation of schools in certain instances could ensure a future for Afrikaans, it should be considered as an option,” Mr. Jaco Mulder, FF Plus MPL and provincial leader in Gauteng says.
 
This follows after three Afrikaans primary schools in the Germiston area had been informed by the Department of Education that, due to a huge demand for English as medium of instruction in this area, their schools have to be closed. This includes the primary schools of Elsburg, Elspark and Delville. The governing bodies of Elspark and Delville Primary Schools have indicated that the possibility is being considered of joining the two schools whilst Elspark Primary School will in future only give instruction in English.
 
It is always sad that a school with years of established traditions and heritage has to be lost, as is the case with Elsburg Primary School. We live in extraordinary times however, of pro-active actions, such as in the case of Vereeniging, where two Afrikaans schools will be joined in 2013 to establish one super-school. If such a step can rescue Afrikaans as a medium of instruction, the FF Plus welcomes the investigation into the feasibility thereof”.
 
According to Mulder, the FF Plus is continuously in contact with the MEC for Education, Ms. Barbara Creecy, in order to ensure that the language rights of schools are being maintained. “We render an input with the department and assist in mediation.”
 
The FF Plus has been fighting for the retention of Afrikaans in schools since the nineties, when the party was involved in the amalgamation of two Afrikaans schools in Newcastle, KwaZulu-Natal. “The FF Plus is fighting for the retention of Afrikaans in schools. We will assist the schools in the amalgamation process”, Mulder said.