The Basic Education Laws Amendment (BELA) Bill was not long ago permitted through the South African Parliament and it is now just ready for being signed into legislation through the President.
The Act will introduce sizeable improvements for the South African Schools Act as well as Employment of Educators Act to better align with modern instructional needs and issues.
Vital provisions from the BELA Bill include things like:
Compulsory Grade R: The Bill makes it necessary for kids to get started on 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 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 bela bill schools the management of learner pregnancies in schools.