Prospective students are now able to access resource material and career information in isiXhosa, after Stellenbosch University (SU) recently made such resources available in this language for the first time.
The Centre for Student Recruitment and Career Advice (CSRC) at SU developed the resources for this initiative, according to Leon van den Heever, director of the CSRC.
The Centre for Student Recruitment and Career Advice (CSRC) at Stellenbosch University (SU) developed resources for a new project that provides high school students with career information in isiXhosa. “The centre consistently aims to help prospective students to gain a better understanding of SU’s offerings, and our processes aimed at enhancing access and inclusivity,” said Leon van den Heever, director of the CSRC. PHOTO: Anri Matthee
Previously, similar content was only available in Afrikaans and English, according to an SU press release from 29 September. The new isiXhosa resources were made available to schools on 30 September during SU’s virtual Language Day 2021 – an event sharing the “opportunities and possibilities multilingualism gives us”, according to the press release.
“By providing isiXhosa-speaking prospective students with online and physical resource material, in their home language, we are enabling them to make informed decisions regarding subject and career choices,” said Van den Heever in written correspondence with MatieMedia.
Currently, the project includes a document with frequently asked questions, a subject choice and career advice booklet, and a presentation video for both grade 9 and grade 11 pupils. The CSRC will release similar isiXhosa resources for grade 12 pupils in February 2022, according to the press release.
The new isiXhosa material, developed by the Centre for Student Recruitment and Career Advice at Stellenbosch University (SU), includes a subject choice guidance and career advice document that explains the academic requirements for different SU faculties and courses. PHOTO: Anri Matthee
The impact of accessibility
For many isiXhosa pupils, English is the language of tuition in high school, said Tracey Smith, a manager at the Legacy Centre in Kayamandi. She believes the new isiXhosa material from SU will be used in the Legacy Centre’s Explore module, “which looks at various career fields”.
“Those learners that struggle in English and can read isiXhosa may benefit from this,” said Smith.
Tracey Smith, a manager at the Kayamandi Legacy Centre, explains the importance of access to mother tongue information for pupils. AUDIO: WhatsApp/Tracey Smith
Making information about career options available in isiXhosa is a “good initiative”, according to Sive Ginya, a third year BA (humanities) student at SU. Ginya studied English at home language level in high school, although her mother tongue is isiXhosa.
“People do feel that sometimes they are limited because of their lack of fluency in English,” said Ginya. “This will make a huge difference, because it will simplify things.”
Information to help high school pupils in choosing their careers and subjects is now available in isiXhosa at Stellenbosch University (SU) for the first time ever. PHOTO: Anri Matthee
Towards a multilingual future
Although prospective students are not yet able to submit their university applications in isiXhosa, the CSRC does provide isiXhosa “advisory sessions” in order to support pupils “from grade 9, up until registration”, said Van den Heever.
“We are also looking at rolling out a webinar series in isiXhosa, to assist the grade 12’s of 2022 with applying to the university,” said Van den Heever. “We want to ensure that learners are supported as far as possible to make realistic subject and career choices.”