Tshwane residents have their say on amendment of education legislations
“The committee welcomes the submissions made in Tshwane and assured participants that thorough consideration will be done to all oral and written submissions made during the public participation process.”
Tshwane parents and those in the educational profession have argued their concerns surrounding the Bella Bill at the weekend.
The majority of the voices did not agree with the sale of alcohol in schools and wanted the government to further rethink having learners register with the Department of Education for homeschooling.
Their voices were heard at the Mabopane Indoor sports centre on Saturday as part of three public hearings held in Gauteng over the Basic Education Laws Amendment (Bela) Bill.
Public Hearing on Basic Education Laws Amendment Bill (BELA), Mabopane Indoor Sports Centre, Gauteng, 5 May 2023 https://t.co/Y3sbJQ38JZ
— Parliament of RSA (@ParliamentofRSA) May 5, 2023
The bill looks to review basic education legislation through the South African Schools Act and the Employment of Educators Act.
The bill has about 57 clauses/amendments.
Some of the key amendments that the Bill aims to make include:
– Making Grade R the new compulsory school starting age, as opposed to Grade 1, as is currently the case.
– Compelling the registration of home-schooled learners
– Criminalising parents who do not ensure their child or children are in school, with fines or jail time for up to 12 months.
– Holding school governing bodies more accountable for disclosures of financial interests – including those related to their spouses and family members.
– Prohibiting educators from conducting business with the state or being a director of public or private companies conducting business with the state.
– Abolishing corporal punishment and initiation/hazing practices.
– Allowing schools to sell alcohol outside of school hours (at functions or events).
– Giving government department heads power over language policies and the curriculums a school must adopt.
The views were shared with the Portfolio Committee on Basic Education, while the Bill was initially published for public comment in October 2017 and presented to the Portfolio Committee in May 2021.
Chairperson of the portfolio committee on basic education, Bongiwe Mbinqo-Gigaba said parliament during the weekend recorded that the majority of the Tshwane residents were against several clauses in the bill.
Mbinqo-Gigaba said Tshwane members at the hearing argued against the sale of alcohol on school premises, even if it is after school hours.
“They argued that this is in contradiction to the moral compass that South Africa should be aiming for in teaching school children.
“There was consensus among those who supported and rejected the Bill that South Africa is currently facing a serious challenge of substance abuse which would certainly be exacerbated by the sale of alcohol in schools as it will send an unintended message that promotes the consumption of alcohol.
“There was also a strong rejection of clause 37 of the bill which proposes a framework for parents and learners that choose home education as a method of education,” said Mbinqo-Gigaba.
She said the rejection was based on the theory that by legislating a requirement to apply and seek permission from the head of the department, the bill was denying parents a right to make decisions for their children.
“There was also an argument that clause 37 (2)(iii) which obligates parents of home-schooled learners to arrange for a competent assessor to assess educational attainment as a tool to increase the cost of homeschooling which will lead to exclusion of learners from poor households.”
Public Hearing on Basic Education Laws Amendment Bill (BELA), Mabopane Indoor Sports Centre, Gauteng, 5 May 2023 https://t.co/NSXJk5vIbA
— Parliament of RSA (@ParliamentofRSA) May 5, 2023
In the hearing, some voices called for the department to provide alternative disciplinary measures to empower teachers to deal with unruly children.
“While they supported the Bill, participants emphasised that there is a lack of discipline in schools which could be worsened by the lack of effective alternative disciplinary measures,” Mbinqo-gigaba said.
“The committee welcomes the submissions made in Tshwane and assured participants that thorough consideration will be done to all oral and written submissions made during the public participation process.”
Parliament said the parents of homeschoolers in Ekurhuleni had proposed a self-regulating mechanism independent of the Department of Basic Education to assist with the monitoring of learning within the home-schooling environment.
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