The Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET) has appointed the executive director of the South African Centre for Digital Language Resources (SADiLaR) at the North-West University (NWU) to serve on its advisory panel on the implementation of the language policy framework for public higher-education institutions.
Prof Langa Khumalo will be part of the panel for an initial period of three years. This period is linked to the implementation cycle of the framework. He says it will be the task of the advisory panel to compile and submit a report to the DHET on the achievement, challenges and lessons learnt during the implementation period. The work of the panel will start in November and the implementation cycle will begin in April 2024.
The advisory panel will oversee the implementation of the policy framework by all South African public higher-education institutions. The oversight entails ensuring that the implementation plans developed by the universities comply with the policy framework, other policies and legislative frameworks. Universities are required to submit language development plans that indicate how they plan to develop and strengthen historically marginalised South African languages.
“This is an important national exercise, and the advisory panel must ensure that universities will not fail in their efforts to successfully implement the current policy framework. Previous language policies have been criticised as just ‘pious articles of faith, with no force nor any effect whatsoever’. I think this time around the commitment not to fail is evident. The members of the advisory panel – and indeed every other stakeholder in the country – have their work cut out for them,” says Prof Khumalo.
He says the appointment is humbling but also a huge responsibility. “The opportunity to serve the ministry and the academe in this capacity is truly an honour.”
This is not the first time Prof Khumalo has been called upon to assist the DHET. He was a member of the Language Policy Review Working Group appointed by the DHET to develop the current language policy framework for public higher-education institutions, which was gazetted in 2020.
Prof Khumalo’s expertise in the field has earned him various accolades. He also recently received a recognition award from the University of the Free State (UFS) for his contribution to multilingualism nationally and internationally.
Prof Langa Khumalo’s extensive knowledge of language policy and planning has led to his participation in and membership of various organisations. These include the African Academy of Languages and the Scientific Board of the Centre for Advanced Studies of African Society, among other institutions. He is also currently the chair and coordinator of the African Union (AU) isiZulu Language Commission and president of the African Association of Lexicography.
