Parliament, Saturday, 21 December 2024 – The Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on Basic Education, Ms Joy Maimela, has welcomed the announcement by President Cyril Ramaphosa that the Basic Education Laws Amendment (BELA) Act should be implemented in its entirety.
Ms Maimela said the legislation has been in the making for years and will certainly add value to the continuing transformation of the basic education sector.
President Ramaphosa assented the BELA Bill into law on 13 September 2024 and for immediate implementation except clauses 4 and 5 of the Act that needed further consultation. The implementation of clauses 4 and 5 was delayed for three months in order to resolve contentious issues in them. President Ramaphosa indicated that if no solutions are found, the Act will be implemented fully after three months.
Regarding the decision to postpone the implementation of some clauses, Ms Maimela said:“This was a commendable gesture of commitment to cooperation by the Government of National Unity. The government tried to meet all parties halfway even after the extensive parliamentary public participation process had been completed and Parliament approved the Bill, the President still left the door open for further engagement on the Act.”
Among other things, the Act makes Grade R the new compulsory school-starting age, it provides for penalties for parents who do not ensure that their children are in school, it confirms that corporal punishment is no longer allowed at schools, and there are penalties for those found guilty of such offences.
Regarding language policy, the Act states that the governing body must submit the language policy of a public school and any amendment thereof to the Head of department for approval. The language policy must also take into consideration the language needs of the broader community. The Act also provides for greater insight into admission policies of schools.
“The committee notes that these relate to the clauses that the President put on hold. It also noted that the clearing house dealt with this matter and there was clearly no other outcome than the one Parliament approved.”
Ms Mailela added: “It is now time for the full implementation of the Act which ensures equal quality education for all and ends exclusionary practices based on language.”
The committee further commends the President’s firm decision regarding the Minister of Basic Education that she should do all that is necessary to ensure that the timeframe for the implementation, particularly regarding preparedness of the system for universal Grade R access, and the consequential regulations setting out the norms and standards are prepared. “We will closely monitor the implementation of the Act. We now look forward to a better future for all our learners,” emphasised Ms Maimela.
ISSUED BY THE PARLIAMENTARY COMMUNICATION SERVICES ON BEHALF OF THE CHAIRPERSON OF THE PORTFOLIO COMMITTEE ON BASIC EDUCATION, MS JOY MAIMELA
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