The civil rights organisation AfriForum today submitted commentary against the Department of Basic Education’s proposed admission policy for ordinary public schools which will in effect come down to the anglicisation of single-medium Afrikaans schools. Angie Motshekga, Minister of Basic Education, published this proposed policy for public commentary in February. The implementation of this policy will contain far-reaching consequences for the manner in which schools determine their own admission and language policy.
The proposed policy determines, amongst others, that the Head of the Department of Basic Education is authorised to determine the admission period, as well as the registration process for the schools in his/her province. The policy furthermore determines that no learner may be refused access to a school because of the school’s language policy. This will mean that single-medium Afrikaans schools can be forced to accommodate learners that cannot understand Afrikaans.
According to Natasha Venter, AfriForum’s Manager for Education Affairs, it seems that parts of this policy is a deliberate attack on single-medium Afrikaans schools. “Learners have the constitutional right to receive education in the language of their choice and it is the Department of Basic Education’s duty to ensure that there are enough schools to make sure that this right is executed. To merely force single-medium Afrikaans schools that already serve enough Afrikaans-speaking children to accept children that have not mastered the language is most definitely not the solution. History proves that where English is forced upon Afrikaans schools, it consequently results in the total anglicisation of these schools.”
The centralisation of power over school placements in the Department has according to Venter already contained proven detrimental consequences for schools. (The frustration experienced by parents with the online registration process in various provinces is a good example of this.) This policy is aimed at giving even more power to the Department.
“Furthermore, the proposed policy also clashes with existing legislation such as the South African Schools Act 84 of 1996 that gives greater autonomy to school governing bodies than what the proposed policy has in mind. It also contrasts with the admission policies of certain provinces, which can lead to confusion at schools and amongst parents regarding the rules that are applicable. AfriForum campaigns itself for greater independence of schools and was therefore compelled to oppose this policy,” says Venter.
To read the commentary submitted, click here.