At first glance it appears as if Ramaphosa is finally and surprisingly growing some balls by making an intelligent decision on the highly controversial Basic Education Laws Amendment Bill (dubbed the BELA BILL).
South Africa’s education system is a total disaster, and surprisingly, for once, President Ramaphosa seems to be attempting to rectify that situation by taking a fairly radical step on the matter. Despite strong opposition from the DA. Cyril has signed the bill into law, while holding back on two clauses; clauses 4 and 5; by postponing a decision on them by three months, to allow for further discussion.
It is clear that the education system in our country is in dire need of increased oversight. from local Heads of Departments.
The majority of children in poor families in South Africa have little or no hope of attaining middle class status in South Africa in their lifetime; and this is largely due to the putrid education system we have.
However, up to now, school governing bodies have been doing pretty much whatever they liked in schools. That needs to change – FAST!
There has to be a balance between parents’ rights, the extent to which schools are allowed to retain their autonomy on how they operate, and the oversight that is needed to keep school governing bodies and teachers in line; in order to produce better educational outcomes and talent and integrity driven citizens, after learners have graduated from schools.
When they look more deeply into the content of the bill, particularly clauses 4 and 5, readers can see that the bill, apart from its obvious benefits for improving the quality of education, does have additional aspects in it that seriously impact learners, schools, parents and citizens. It appears that the bill also empowers Heads of Departments to exert pressure on school staff and learners in ways that go beyond teaching.
The bill has far reaching consequences, as it has a bearing on many aspects of our country’s future; including the fact that South Africa’s talent pool is being decimated as prominent, talented business leaders, industrial leaders, and energy, education and mining experts in these and other fields are fleeing the country in large numbers; and that prospects for recovery in these fields are widely predicted to be delayed for some time. Thus, as Rob Hersov, head of Invest Africa has frequently stated; at the moment and probably for years; South Africa, despite its potential for recovery driven by the GNU, remains UNINVESTABLE!
The country’s leaders’ failure to improve the lives of all its citizens; but particularly the poorer members of the population during the last 30 years resulted in their humiliating failure to retain 50% plus of the vote; so now that the GNU appears to be holding; Ramaphosa is starting to capitulate with the main members of the coalition; trying to save face and give the impression that he cares about the poor.
One thing that caught my eye was the fact that admissions policy on basic school admissions has fairly stringent rules regarding which learners should be allowed to attend schools; as well as policy on compulsory vaccination in schools.
Worldwide, including in South Africa, there is extensive ongoing debate and friction on which immigrants should be allowed into certain countries; due to countries such as the UK and others having experienced increased criminality from immigrants; as well as destructive protest action between locals and foreign immigrants; and disputes arising from cultural differences.
Even if the Bela Bill does manage to revive the crippled education system, it will take many years before today’s learners will be able to contribute significantly to the country’s economic recovery; but at least the bill is a step in the right direction.
In the aftermath of Covid 19, many people in different countries, including South Africa now have a strong aversion to national medical authorities dictating policy on vaccinations, because of abuse of power by so-called medical experts who demanded that citizens had to comply with rulings on vaccination.
Such power abuses were often illegally implemented by politicians who were predominantly interested in using the pandemic to line their own pockets or gain power; at the expense of people who trusted the rule makers.
Clause 2 makes it compulsory for children of preschool age (grade R) to attend school, in addition to going all the way to grade 12; which, in light of the general shockingly low level of education in South Africa, seems like a good idea. especially as education experts state that the preschool period in a child’s life is when a huge amount of development takes place; as well as being the period when character formation occurs. However; the educational authorities need to take into consideration whether parents can afford to send their children to school at that time.
There is no foundation to the rumour that schools can mandate pregnant learners to have an abortion, without consulting their parents. However, there is a clause in The Children’s Act that allows children to have abortions without consulting their parents.
Homeschooling is also covered and the bill provides for regulation of homeschooling – which also seems to be acceptable.
Clause 5 specifies that schools should implement teaching in more than one language.
The bill also expands the definition of corporal punishment which now includes any act which seeks to; belittle, humiliate, threaten, induce fear or ridicule the dignity and person of a learner. In light of the persistent practice of bullying in schools that seems to be the best way to go.
Section 27 increases the penalty imposed on parents who do not send their children to school which specifies that parents can be fined or imprisoned for up to 12 years. This seems a bit excessive; so further investigation and discussion needs to take place, so a compromise solution can be found.
The DA is probably concerned about the schools losing some of their autonomy; and they are probably also determined to prevent the ANC from gaining points with the electorate; but it is probably TOO LITTLE TOO LATE!
Overall, it seems as if the BELA bill will be good for country; provided that the amendments are done responsibly.
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