South African Basic Education Laws Amendment Bill Adopted by Parliamentary Committee

The Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Basic Education in South Africa has made the groundbreaking decision to approve the Basic Education Laws Amendment (BELA) Bill, as announced by Committee Chairperson, Bongiwe Mbinqo-Gigaba. This culminates over two decades of work geared towards improving and transforming the basic education sector.

One of the most significant changes indicated in the BELA Bill is the reduction in the official school starting age, with Grade R to become the new entry point. In a bid to enforce compulsory education, the Bill also introduces penalties for parents who fail to ensure their children's regular school attendance. Corporal punishment, previously a topic of heated debate, is unequivocally banned in schools, with penalties in place for infringement.

In terms of language policy, Mbinqo-Gigaba explained how the new act requires schools to consider the linguistic needs of the wider community. The contentious home-schooling amendment will be partially adopted, granting the department's head authority to mandate pre-registration site visits.

On the other hand, opposition comes from both political parties and interest groups. Freedom Front Plus raised objections relating to the Bill's overruling of school governing bodies’ power. DA MP, Baxolile Nodada, expressed concerns about the Bill's wording, potential impact, and the risks of planned centralisation.

Afriforum, a lobby group, has already threatened to pursue legal action against the Bill, maintaining that the language articles serve political, not educational, aims ahead of the national elections. Spokesperson Alana Bailey also pointed out potential financial issues in extending compulsory preschool education and harmful effects on home-schooling.