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PHUTI MOSOMANE
CONCERNED residents of the Mopani District in Limpopo have urged the Portfolio Committee on Basic Education to ensure that the Basic Education Laws Amendment Bill contains a provision in it for harsher penalty for parents who undermine Clause 2 (1) of the bill, a provision which proposes that basic education is compulsory for every learner from Grade R.
Residents made the plea during public hearings held over the weekend at the Lenyenye Community Hall outside Tzaneen, in Limpopo’s Mopani District.
These views were based on an opinion that compulsory education at schools presents a solid foundation for further schooling and is a necessary transitional period that prepares learners for the rigours of formal schooling.
“Also, there was a view that better prepared learners at foundation phase will reduce the drop-out rate which is unacceptably high currently. The view was that 12 months which is proposed in the Bill is not enough to deter defiance by some parents,” chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on Basic Education, Bongiwe Mbinqo-Gigaba, said on Monday.
The participants welcomed Clause 5 (6) of the Bill, arguing that it will make education inclusive.
On Clause 36, they argued that it must be strengthened, and that the clause must enable the Head of the Department (HOD) of Basic Education to regulate fees charged by independent schools.
The majority of participants registered their support for the Bill and proposed further amendments on it.
In Thohoyandou, as well, there were participants who rejected the clause in the Bill which allows the sale of liquor on school premises. They based their rejection of the clause based on the increased levels of substance abuse in South Africa, especially by young people.
“Despite the majority support of the Bill there were those who opposed it because in their view the Bill is not promoting mother tongue education in schools. Some parents raised a concern that the Bill in its current form centralises power in the HOD and deprives parents and schools their right to determine rules for their school. They called for the department to intervene only when there is evidence that the school is using a language policy which discriminates and when there is an inconsistency with what is spelt out in the Bill,” Mbinqo-Gigaba said.
Mbinqo-Gigaba said an argument was also made that the Bill in its current form allows the department to abuse its powers and deny learners a right to mother tongue education.
According to those that support home schooling, the BELA Bill has many restrictions that will make it difficult for parents who choose home-schooling as it imposes one curriculum and one philosophy.
This, according to them, deprives parents and learners their constitutionally enshrined freedom of choice particularly for learning preferences.
The committee appreciated the inputs it received from the participants and assured them that their views will be taken into consideration when it deliberates on the Bill.
On Monday, the committee held further public hearings in Capricorn District Municipality at the Jack Botes Hall in Polokwane.
It invited individuals and organisations to attend the hearings to make contributions on the Bill.
INSIDE EDUCATION