Title: Major education breakthrough: President Cyril Ramaphosa signs Basic Education Laws Amendment Act
President Cyril Ramaphosa recently marked a historic milestone in the education sector by formally approving the full provisions of the Basic Education Laws Amendment Act (Bela) after a three-month consultation period with parties within the Government of National Unity (GNU).
Despite earlier attempts by the Democratic Alliance party and Solidarity trade union to block the implementation of two contested sections of the Act, Ramaphosa took the decision to sign them in full, after securing the approval of GNU party leaders at a meeting.
The legislation, one of the most significant in the education sector since the advent of democracy, was initially signed into law by Ramaphosa on 13 September. However, its implementation was delayed by three months to allow for in-depth discussions on sections 4 and 5 of the Act.
Section 4 of the Bela Act gives the Ministry of Basic Education more control over student admission policy, while section 5 requires the school board to submit the school’s language policy to the provincial head of department for approval.
Despite opposition from the Democratic and Solidarity Alliance to the Act since its inception, the Bela Act aims to strengthen the oversight of school boards for more effective management of schools.
To build consensus on the Act, a Compensation Mechanism working group was established with members of the GNU, including the Democratic Alliance, FF-Plus, GOOD and the ANC.
Following the final signing of the Act, Democratic Alliance representative John Steenhuisen expressed satisfaction with the negotiations. According to him, the agreement reached is a win-win compromise that will allow the implementation of the law while preserving the constitutional rights to mother tongue education.
Basic Education Minister Siviwe Gwarube confirmed that her department will implement the law with the support of national regulations, policies and standards that will be developed, publicly reviewed and finalized in the best interest of learners.
Once the document is finalized, a public participation process will be put in place before the law is implemented.
Ultimately, this law passed by the National Assembly on 16 May 2024, represents a major step forward in the South African education landscapeWith the introduction of compulsory pre-school education, the guarantee of the right to education for undocumented children, the strengthening of the supervisory role of heads of department and the formal prohibition of corporal punishment, this law lays the foundations for a fairer and more effective education system in South Africa.