The Basic Education Laws Amendment (BELA) Bill was just lately accepted by the South African Parliament which is now just waiting being signed into law because of the President.
The Act will introduce substantial adjustments for the South African Schools Act and also the Employment of Educators Act to better align with contemporary academic requires and problems.
Critical provisions of the BELA Bill contain:
Compulsory Grade R: The Bill can make it mandatory for youngsters to get started on school at Grade R, with official penalties for folks who fall short to enroll their kids.
Corporal Punishment: The Bill reinforces the ban on corporal punishment and prohibits other types of punishment that will belittle learners.
Language Policy: School governing bodies (SGBs) will continue more info to determine the language policy of schools, but these policies must be approved by the head of the education department. This aims to ensure that language policies do not discriminate and are inclusive.
Learner Pregnancy: Contrary to some public misconceptions, the Bill does not give schools control over a learner’s decision regarding abortion. It does, however, address the management of learner pregnancies in schools.