Question NW2679 to the Minister of Higher Education, Science and Innovation
02 October 2023 - NW2679
Schreiber, Dr LA to ask the Minister of Higher Education, Science and Innovation
Whether, with reference to his replies to question 3520 on 27 October 2022 and to question 45 on 24 February 2023, the amendment to the Language Policy Framework for Higher Education Institutions to provide an explicitly inclusive definition of indigenous languages and/or resolve technicalities around the definition of indigenous language has been duly published in the Government Gazette; if not, what are the reasons that the amendment has not been implemented despite his repeated undertakings to do so; if so, what are the relevant details?
Reply:
The definition of “indigenous languages” in the Language Policy Framework for Public Higher Education Institutions, published on 30 October 2020 has been revised in line with legal advice the Department of Higher Education and Training has received on the matter. The revised definition was published on 7 July 2023 in Government Gazette no 48923, under the title, “Amendment of the Definition on the Language Policy Framework For Public Higher Education Institutions, Determined in Terms of Section 27(2) of the Higher Education Act, 101 of 1997 as amended”.