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LOOMING LEGISLATION: EXAMINING THE BELA BILL'S IMPACT ON EDUCATION
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Looming Legislation: Examining the BELA Bill's Impact on Education
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LOOMING LEGISLATION: EXAMINING THE BELA BILL'S IMPACT ON EDUCATION
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18th January 2024
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/ MEDIA STATEMENT / The content on this page is not written by Polity.org.za,
but is supplied by third parties. This content does not constitute news
reporting by Polity.org.za.
The Basic Education Laws Amendment Bill (“BELA Bill”), which proposes amendment
to the South African Schools Act, 1996 (“SASA”) and the Employment of Educators
Act, 1998 (“EEA”), was passed by Parliament’s first house, the National Assembly
(“NA”) on 26 October 2023. It is now before the second house, the National
Council of Provinces (“NCOP”) and is currently open written submissions, until
31 January 2024.
During the NA’s call for comments, the FW de Klerk
Foundation submitted extensive written comments expressing significant concerns
about the implications of the BELA Bill. These comments, in line with the
Foundation’s commitment to upholding the Constitution, focused on the State
taking powers away from School Governing Bodies (“SGBs”).
Among the key issues raised by the Foundation are the powers afforded to the
provincial education department heads to overrule SGB authority in determining
admissions and language policies. The Foundation argues that such a shift
undermines the principles of democratic school governance and that it will be
deemed a violation of the founding provisions, especially in terms of language
rights as embedded in section 31 of our Constitution. It raises serious concerns
that these provisions might threaten the future of single-medium Afrikaans
schools, and hence the right outlined in section 29(2) to education in the
official language of choice in public educational institutions. In addition, the
proposed amendments, including the provision on "equality" and "equity", lack
clear definitions and may lead to arbitrary decision-making, as evidenced by the
potential erosion of language rights.
Moreover, the Foundation highlights the discriminatory nature of the Bill
towards undocumented learners: including a list of "required documents" which
impose higher barriers to accessing basic education, contradicting current
admission policies and SASA. The Foundation asserts that the criminal sanctions
for parents who fail to submit such documents overlook practical challenges in
obtaining them from the Department of Home Affairs.
The Foundation emphasises the importance of SGBs as democratically elected and
competent parent bodies to address matters related to admission and language
policies in public schools. It advocates for deleting provisions that strip SGBs
of powers, arguing that centralising decision-making power in provincial
departments could lead to inefficiency and potential abuse of authority.
Decisions regarding admissions taken arbitrarily, may result in chaos and even
conflict where schools do not have the capacity to accommodate additional
learners. Additionally, the Foundation calls for a review of the Bill's
provisions on language policies and the establishment of a reasonable dispute
resolution process for parents.
The public has a second chance to comment on the Bill (as changed by the NA
after its public participation process) as it enters the NCOP for consideration.
As the FW de Klerk Foundation, we reiterate our commitment to providing
comprehensive comments (written and verbal) on the BELA Bill, to ensure that the
legislative process considers the concerns and perspectives of various
stakeholders. This ongoing dedication is particularly pertinent given that the
worrisome clauses, which have been a source of concern for the FW de Klerk
Foundation, still exist in the latest version of the BELA Bill submitted to the
NCOP.
In conclusion, the BELA Bill, in its current form, raises serious concerns about
potential infringements on language rights, discrimination against undocumented
learners, and the erosion of the democratic governance of public schools. The
Foundation will actively participate in the ongoing legislative process,
continuing to advocate for amendments that align with the constitutional
framework and uphold the fundamental rights of all South African citizens.
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