A day in the life at the University of Pretoria. 12 October 1992

On this "Day in the life of the University of Pretoria" the UP Council implemented a flexible language policy.

While classes were originally presented in English and Dutch at the Transvaal University College ( the predecessor of UP) in 1932 it was decided that Afrikaans will be the main language of instruction at the University. Under the new policy that was implemented on 12 October 1992,  Afrikaans remained the official language of tuition at UP but the Executive was empowered to give permission for students to be taught in English if the need arose, provided that this was justified by their numbers in a particular course or class, as well as being financially affordable. Thus, although Afrikaans was accepted as the dominant language of tuition at UP, English was gradually implemented in those faculties in which the diversity in the student population and registration of international students had already become the norm at undergraduate level. In 1997 English was introduced as a second language of education and in 2007 Sepedi was also be incorporated into the institution’s branding and official communiqués.

The University of Pretoria Archives (UPA) preserves the history of the University of Pretoria. The UPA houses the historical volumes on the history of the University as featured here and is available in the UP Archives reading room in the Old Arts building. Please contact us on [email protected] to share your memories of Tukkies or to access our collection.