The residents of greater uMgungundlovu District Municipality have cautioned against clause 13 of the Basic Education Laws Amendment Bill which proposes a process to be followed in the merger of small and non-viable public schools. The residents shared this view with the Portfolio Committee on Basic Education during the second of three public hearings on the Bill that were held at the Grange Community Hall in Pietermaritzburg yesterday.
The Bill was mostly rejected by residents who highlighted that the merger of schools takes away the right of learners to quality education from schools closer to where they live. The participants pointed out the inherent risk posed by the transportation of young children to schools that become far as a result of the merger, and they cited many fatal accidents that involved learner transport. They argued that instead of closing schools with low numbers of learners, the Department of Basic Educaion should provide support to those schools.
In addition, the participants said that the closure of non-viable schools and the overregulation of home-schooling make a minimal contribution in enhancing public education system and has a potential of repelling skilled educators from the basic education sector.
Meanwhile, there was a rejection of clause 37 with home-schooling parents arguing that the proposals made, seek to usurp the natural power of parents to make decisions about their children. Furthermore, some parents raised security concerns that the implementation of clause 37 (2) (b) (iii) and (3) which proposes assessment by a competent assessor and site visits, will according to them, expose families to criminal elements and promote crime. They called for alternative measures to ensure accountability within the home-schooling system. In calling for the complete removal of the clause, they said that in their view the home-schooling environment was properly regulated in the Children’s Act.
The participants who supported the Bill argued that the regulation of home-schooling as proposed by the Bill, will ensure equity within the public schooling sphere and prevent a two-tier system within the environment. Despite the support to the Bill, the majority of participants rejected the sale of alcohol in schools as, according to them, it has a potential of sending a wrong message of the promotion of substance abuse in a country currently struggling with that problem.
Some participants who partially supported the Bill expressed their concern regarding certain clauses which they believe should be reconsidered to ensure that the Bill achieves its objectives. They cited a potential risk in clause 14, for example, according to them the clause as it stands will drive away people with potential from availing themselves as members of the School Governing Body as they will be required, in terms of that clause, to submit their financial interests.
While the public hearing was a success, the committee profusely apologised for the belated change in venue as a result of the double-booking of the hall that was initially secured. The committee assured participants that efforts were made to ensure that all of them are transported to the new venue to participate in the hearings. “This matter was unfortunately beyond our control but we thank the municipality for availing another hall that was not far from the Pietermaritzburg Town Hall to ensure the continuation of the hearings. The fact that this hall (including the overflow area) was full, attests to the fact that our efforts to bring everyone here were successful,” said Ms Bongiwe Mbinqo-Gigaba, the Chairperson of the committee.
The committee will today conclude the KwaZulu-Natal leg of hearings with a session at the eThekwini Metropolitan Municipality.
Details of the Hearings are as follows:
Date: Sunday, 14 May 2023
Time: 12:00
Venue: Pinetown Civic Centre (60 Kings Rd, New Germany, Pinetown, 3620)
Source: Parliament of South Africa