Policy analysis as "text" in higher education: Challenging South Africa's "use of official languages act": A case-based approach

Abstract

Policy science literature demonstrates that deeper insight into notions of the policy process, such as of policy formulation and policy-making, can be drawn from policy analysis. Some scholars have consequently paid serious attention to policy analysis. In this article, definitions of policy offered by scholars in the field of policy science are deliberated. Thereafter, the article engages with policy analysis from the perspective of policy text. This article employs a case study to scrutinise the Use of Official Languages Act 12 of 2012, particularly the South African Qualification Authority's language policy development and formulation process as a unit of analysis. From a conceptual and analytical perspective, the article draws on the notion of presupposition as a viable tool for analysing policy text. Furthermore, a textual cycle is proposed, and an account of pertinent research questions is provided. Finally, the article highlights some implications for transformation in higher education pertaining to policy text.

Making sense of architectural ‘language’: Implications for success in teaching and learning for ECP students at CPUT

“…One of the challenges facing higher education is set out in the 2002 Language Policy for Higher Education: "[E]nsuring that the existing languages of instruction do not serve as a barrier to access and success" (RSA DHET, 2002:5) as they did in the past. South Africa's history had always favoured the institutionalisation of English (and especially of Afrikaans during apartheid), while African languages lagged as less institutionalised languages, specifically in areas such as academia, legislature and the judiciary (see Alexander, 2003;Braam, 2004;Heugh, 2003;Ralarala, 2019). Even with policies and legislative documents acknowledging South Africa's plurality and promoting multilingualism, where languages were concerned, the legacy of apartheid was carried over in the transition to postdemocratic South Africa.…”