The Portfolio Committee on Basic Education has concluded the KwaZulu-Natal leg of public hearings on the Basic Education Laws Amendment (BELA) Bill at the Pinetown Civic Hall where some residents underscored that the bill, once passed into law, will ensure the development of the education system and ensure transformation and equitable access.
Despite majority support for the bill, participants in the public hearings had varied views on certain clauses. Those who supported the bill believe that as the legacy of exclusion and segregation within the schooling system remains a factor, the proposal in the bill to include the head of department in the process to determine the language and admission policy will limit the power of school governing bodies (SGBs) to abuse their powers and perpetuate the exclusion of certain leaners.
However, those who opposed the bill argued that in its current form the intention is to take away parents’ rights to make decisions about what is best for their children. They also argued that the community through the SGB is the right body to make language and admission policy decisions because they understand the peculiar circumstances of their communities.
Clause 37 was also another point of contention between participants. Those supporting the bill welcomed the process to register home-schooled learners, as they believe it will enablethe department to give full account of leaners within the system. The also argued that it will avoid a two-tier system, as ensure a similar standard of assessment of all learners. Meanwhile, those opposing clause 37 consider it to be departmental overreach, as parents and not the state understand the curriculum and their children’s learning abilities. The also believe that overregulation will increase the burden and cost of home schooling and will not serve the best interests of learners.
Clause 41 was another area of contention, as some participants said it gives the Minister a blank cheque to make regulations regarding the management of pregnant learners. It will alsoremove the rights of parents to make decisions about their children, they said, and place those rights in the hands of the state, which cannot be trusted. They called for the DBE to publish the regulations to enable parents to make informed decisions.
Notwithstanding these differences, there was general agreement by participants that the clause that seeks to regulate the sale of alcohol should be scrapped, as this would send a wrong message to learners and will perpetuate the challenge of substance abuse and violence in schools. There was a suggestion that alcohol can only be used as part of learning material, but not sold, and that alternative measures but found to raise funds for schools.
Furthermore, there was agreement that clause 2 that makes it compulsory for attendance of school to start with Grade R is necessary, as it will ensure that leaners are adequately prepared for the rigors of school. Others argued that the inclusion of grade R to mainstream education will ensure that teachers are adequately remunerated for the critical work they perform at the foundation of the schooling system.
The committee welcomed all the views made through oral and written presentations and assured participants that their views will be considered when the committee finally deliberates on the bill. “When the hearings started, we assured you that ours is to listen to you and your views. We have heard you and through your daily lived experiences we will make informed decisions about the future of the education system, which is critical for the development of this country. These hearings have been the best expression of participatory democracy,” said Ms Bongiwe Mbinqo-Gigaba, the Chairperson of the committee.
The committee has now concluded hearings in Limpopo, Free State, North West, Mpumalanga, Gauteng and KwaZulu-Natal. The committee will next move to the Western Cape to continue its nationwide public participation process.
Source: Parliament of South Africa