I think a debate is needed regarding schools in South Africa whose medium of instruction is Afrikaans.
Isn't it time for schools whose medium of instruction is Afrikaans to change it to English? We live in a racially divided country already and having schools that still have a medium of instruction in Afrikaans definitely excludes people/children of other race groups. Blacks and Indians will definitely view Afrikaans schools as a sign that they are not wanted, that they must go to other schools. In my view, Afrikaans schools are nothing more than a way to keep people from other race groups away who otherwise don't speak Afrikaans.
People might say that the Education Department allows schools to teach in Afrikaans and therefore those schools are not discriminating. People might also say that if someone wants a school with English as a medium of instruction, then they must go to wherever they came from and find a school that offers English as a medium of instruction. All those reasons might be valid, but at the same time it doesn't do much to cover the fact that Afrikaans schools' may aim in this day and age is to keep away certain people from certain race groups.
Something else that bothers me a bit is that even model C high schools whose medium of instruction is English, make it compulsory for all students to take both English and Afrikaans from Grade 10, why is that? Why can't the only language that is compulsory be English? Why Afrikaans? That is what happened to me while attending a model C high school. I was "forced" to take Afrikaans in addition to English. The last time I uttered a word in Afrikaans was the year I matriculated, so what is the use of being taught Afrikaans if one will not use it later in life?
Most black students would gladly choose Afrikaans over Zulu/Sotho because it's easy to pass Afrikaans, but I think the time has come for the education department to change their policy of making students have 2 languages, students must be given the option of doing one language subject, i.e. English. If students want to do more than one language subject then they can choose Afrikaans if they wish. I am against students being "forced" to take Afrikaans, I believe in freedom of choice.
Mind you, this is not an attack on the Afrikaans language, culture, its people and history. I merely want a debate about this. I think we should also watch our emotions, logical debates usually work. I'm also looking to be educated if I don't know something regarding issues I raised above.
Isn't it time for schools whose medium of instruction is Afrikaans to change it to English? We live in a racially divided country already and having schools that still have a medium of instruction in Afrikaans definitely excludes people/children of other race groups. Blacks and Indians will definitely view Afrikaans schools as a sign that they are not wanted, that they must go to other schools. In my view, Afrikaans schools are nothing more than a way to keep people from other race groups away who otherwise don't speak Afrikaans.
People might say that the Education Department allows schools to teach in Afrikaans and therefore those schools are not discriminating. People might also say that if someone wants a school with English as a medium of instruction, then they must go to wherever they came from and find a school that offers English as a medium of instruction. All those reasons might be valid, but at the same time it doesn't do much to cover the fact that Afrikaans schools' may aim in this day and age is to keep away certain people from certain race groups.
Something else that bothers me a bit is that even model C high schools whose medium of instruction is English, make it compulsory for all students to take both English and Afrikaans from Grade 10, why is that? Why can't the only language that is compulsory be English? Why Afrikaans? That is what happened to me while attending a model C high school. I was "forced" to take Afrikaans in addition to English. The last time I uttered a word in Afrikaans was the year I matriculated, so what is the use of being taught Afrikaans if one will not use it later in life?
Most black students would gladly choose Afrikaans over Zulu/Sotho because it's easy to pass Afrikaans, but I think the time has come for the education department to change their policy of making students have 2 languages, students must be given the option of doing one language subject, i.e. English. If students want to do more than one language subject then they can choose Afrikaans if they wish. I am against students being "forced" to take Afrikaans, I believe in freedom of choice.
Mind you, this is not an attack on the Afrikaans language, culture, its people and history. I merely want a debate about this. I think we should also watch our emotions, logical debates usually work. I'm also looking to be educated if I don't know something regarding issues I raised above.
