he Chairperson of the Select Committee on Education, Science and the Creative Industries, Mr Makhi Feni, has noted with appreciation today’s public signing into law of the Basic Education Amendment (BELA) Bill by President Cyril Ramaphosa.
The BELA Bill has taken a long time to pass through the legislation-making process, Mr Feni said. “We welcome the signing of this Bill into law and we believe that it will change the running of the schools for the better. We appreciate that the President has once more opened a window for opponents of this law by asking for further input into the legislation.”
“The signing of the Bill is an affirmation of the quality of work the previous committee had put into the public participation processes,” added Mr Feni.
The Bill and now the Act are a comprehensive articulation of how schools are to be managed and administered. It is intended to address, among other things:
• home schooling and curriculum for that purpose
• inclusion and use of languages, including the sign language
• clarification of corporal punishment
• the roles of head of department, MEC, and the school governing bodies
• Suspension of learners accused of criminal conduct
• merger of schools, undocumented learners, and children of undocumented parents
• compulsory attendance of Grade R
• alignment of home schooling with public schooling, and
• setting provisions that are not provided for in the legislation.
Mr Feni said the misrepresentation that the Bill seeks to do away with Afrikaans is unfounded and intended to drive a wedge between South Africans. He said the Minister of Basic Education’s behaviour in not attending the signing ceremony for a piece of legislation intended for her portfolio is unfortunate and intended to undermine the President. “That conduct is regrettable,” added Mr Feni.
It was announced that there are clauses the President would welcome further input on before complete implementation. Mr Feni called on opponents of the Bill to use this opening and raise concerns.