The Basic Education Laws Amendment (BELA) Bill was not long ago authorized from the South African Parliament and it is now just ready being signed into law by the President.
The Act will introduce sizeable variations to your South African Schools Act along with the Employment of Educators Act to better align with contemporary academic requires and problems.
Key provisions on the BELA Bill include:
Compulsory Grade R: The Bill causes it to be obligatory for youngsters to start school at Grade R, with formal penalties for parents who fall short to enroll their little ones.
Corporal Punishment: The Bill reinforces the ban on corporal punishment and prohibits other forms of punishment that could belittle learners.
Language Policy: School governing bodies (SGBs) will continue to determine the language policy of schools, but these policies must be approved here 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.