Xhosa as medium of instruction in higher education : pie in the sky?

Date
2010
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Stellenbosch University
Abstract
This article debates the possibility of introducing Xhosa as a Medium of Instruction (MoI) at tertiary level. It should be seen as an argumentative contribution that comprises the following methodological steps: (a) a look at the language stipulations in the Constitution, (b) a brief survey of the advocacy of Neville Alexander (2003, 2006) regarding the development of the indigenous languages to serve as MoI, (c) an analysis of the directives from educational authorities pertaining to this matter, and (d), a brief comparative view of the language policies of three universities in the Western Cape, i.e. Cape Town, Stellenbosch and the Western Cape, undertaken to assess how these institutions have responded to the directives from educational authorities to develop Xhosa as a language of teaching and learning at tertiary level. It is argued that, despite exciting and innovative developments around developing multilingualism on all three campuses, the matter around developing Xhosa as a medium of instruction in higher education is receiving very little attention and could at best be seen as a possible long-term goal. It is further argued that the introduction of Xhosa as a medium of instruction in the schooling system should precede attempts to introduce it as a medium of instruction in higher education.
Description
CITATION: Neethling, B. 2010. Xhosa as medium of instruction in higher education : pie in the sky? Per Linguam : a Journal of Language Learning, 26(1):61-73, doi:10.5785/26-1-14.
http://perlinguam.journals.ac.za
Keywords
Xhosa language -- Instruction, Language and languages -- Instruction, Education, Higher -- South Africa -- Western Cape
Citation
Neethling, B. 2010. Xhosa as medium of instruction in higher education : pie in the sky? Per Linguam : a Journal of Language Learning, 26(1):61-73, doi:10.5785/26-1-14