THANDI XABA
Fancy studying towards an LLB degree, you could be required to take up an indigenous language as part of your degree. In the recent budget speech for the national department of justice and correctional services, Minister Michael Masutha announced plans to investigate ways to promote the use of indigenous languages during court proceedings.
If universities nationwide take Masutha up on his idea, it would mean new law students might have to study an African language as a compulsory subject as part of their curriculum.
Dean of the Faculty of Law at University of Free State, Professor Caroline Nicholson, says although it’s a good idea, it would require thorough planning and implementation.
"To make an African language a compulsory component of the LLB degree is a little more difficult than making it available as an elective, in other words, a subject that students can choose to take or not take. If students were required to take a language component, then we will have to look at how you can fit in the curriculum meaningfully, to ensure it’s not just paying lip service."
She adds the language must result in the learner, when leaving the university, having at least the ability to understand the basics of what’s been said to him or her in that language and perhaps being able to converse with their clients in that language.
"The question would be, do you want them to do Zulu or Sotho 1,2,3 or is the idea rather that they become conversant in the language, offered on a 6-month conversational Sotho or Zulu course. It would depend on the language elements that are being envisaged. That will then influence how valuable it will be for students," she says.
Nicholson further states that the LLB curriculum is a very packed curriculum, with numerous courses and modules.
"The council for higher education is currently looking at a national review of the LLB qualification and part of that process of review will be an extermination of the content of the curriculum and what should be added, etc. to ensure it’s the best qualification you could have for entry into the legal profession and legally-related positions in the market."
