By Thapelo Molefe

The EFF has lashed out at President Cyril Ramaphosa and his administration for delaying the implementation of the Basic Education Laws Amendment (Bela) Act.

In a strongly worded statement, the EFF accused the government of bowing to pressure from right-wing groups, including the Democratic Alliance and AfriForum, to hinder progressive reforms in South Africa’s education system.

The Act seeks to centralise control over school admissions and language policies.

Clauses 4 and 5 of the Act deal transfer decision-making power from School Governing Bodies to provincial Heads of Departments, a move aimed at fostering inclusivity in schools.

These changes, however, have faced opposition from groups the EFF claims are working to preserve “Afrikanerdom” within the education sector.

The implementation of the contentious clauses was postponed by three months to allow for further consultations.

The EFF claims the delay was politically motivated, aimed at appeasing the DA and other conservative elements within the Government of National Unity (GNU). The EFF is not a member of the GNU.

The party also condemned the GNU’s clearing house mechanism, saying it enabled the African National Congress and DA to revise laws behind closed doors.

EFF national spokesperson Leigh-Ann Mathys said it undermined democratic processes and compromised the integrity of legislation.

“The clearing of house mechanism of the GNU is not a democratic or oversight instrument other and therefore holds no legal jurisdiction to review the laws which are adopted by the of the National Assembly nor is it established by any provision of the Constitution of South Africa,” she said in a statement.

“It is a collaboration of political parties which have assigned ministerial positions to each National Assembly and the National Council of Provinces.”

The EFF raised concerns about alleged compromises made during private negotiations, warning that these could dilute the transformative goals of the Bela Act.

The EFF also cautioned Basic Education Minister Siviwe Gwarube against obstructing the Act’s implementation. The minister is in charge of putting systems and regulations in place to ensue that the law is implemented in its entirety.

The party demanded severe consequences for the minister, including possible removal, should delays persist.

“Should there be any prolonged and politically motivated delay, the Minister of Basic Education must face severe consequences,” Mathys said.

The EFF has further accused the ANC of abandoning progressive policies to preserve its alliance with right-wing groups in the GNU coalition.

The party argued that the delays in implementing the Bela Act reflected a broader pattern of governance undermined by political expediency.

“The ANC has shown that it is willing to sacrifice transformative legislation to appease its coalition partners, undermining the very democracy it claims to uphold,” said Mathys.

Despite these setbacks, the EFF pledged to continue supporting progressive legislation while scrutinising any compromises that could weaken the Act’s objectives.

“The education of our children should never be subjected to petty electioneering or the appeasement of reactionary forces,” she said.

Gwarube warned over the weekend that the law must not be used as a political football, and has announced deadlines to implement parts of the Act.

INSIDE EDUCATION

By Johnathan Paoli

Basic Education Minister Siviwe Gwarube is adamant that the Basic Education Laws Amendment (Bela) Act must not be turned into a political tool for sowing divisions on the language of instruction at schools.

Responding to reactions in the wake of President Cyril Ramaphosa’s declaration on the immediate implementation of the Act, Gwarube said the law must not be used to undermine any language that was selected for teaching and learning.

“I will not tolerate any weaponising of this legislation for political means. The future of this country and our learners depends on us doing our work,” she said.

Briefing the media in Cape Town on Saturday, the minister stressed her leadership in establishing the guidelines, norms and standards, and regulations needed to implement the law.

Gwarube said that it was important to note that the timelines would be set by her.

“I want to make it abundantly clear that this Act will be implemented, and its implementation will be led by me,” she said.

The minister said that the implementation would be done in a manner that protected the rights of all children and schools from victimisation in any form, and at all times.

She has instructed her team to immediately develop guidelines that would be sent to all public schools and provincial education departments by the end of January, in order to support school governing bodies and the departments in implementing certain sections of the Act.

Meanwhile, the South African Democratic Teachers’ Union has welcomed the announcement of the full implementation of the Act.

Sadtu, which is South Africa’s biggest teacher union, praised the legislation as it ensured the educational needs of all learners and empowered provincial education departments to determine school language and admission policies.

“Our voices have finally been heard. We are happy that the attempts of right-wing formations to manipulate the law for the benefit of a select few were unsuccessful,” the union stated.

However, the Afrikaans-aligned Solidarity Movement, which has been an ardent critic of the law, specifically sections 4 and 5 that deal with language and admission policies at schools, has waned it is ready for legal action.

Spokesperson Werner Human said the movement would thoroughly evaluate the final proclamation and asses the constitutional validity of the legislation.

He said the movement stood ready to act if there was any attempt to force schools to implement sections 4 and 5 at this stage.

“The Solidarity Movement, including Solidarity, AfriForum and the Solidarity School Support Centre, will challenge any form of intimidation against schools in court and reserves their right to challenge the proclamation in court, depending on how it is published in the Government Gazette,” Human said.

The minister will have to facilitate practical solutions to effectively implement the legislation, as signed by the Ramaphosa and agreed to by the clearing house mechanism of the Government of National Unity.

INSIDE EDUCATION

By Johnathan Paoli

After waiting for more than three months, South Africans have clarity on the Basic Education Laws Amendment (Bela) Act. It will be implemented in its entirety, including the contentious Sections 4 and 5, and is effective immediately.

President Cyril Ramaphosa emphasised the Act’s critical role on Friday in ensuring equitable access to quality education for all children, regardless of their circumstance, language or location.

“This Act is vital to the transformation of the education system in our country. The Act is an important part of ongoing efforts to build an education system that is more effective and more equitable in line with the precepts of our Constitution,” Ramaphosa said in a statement.

He reaffirmed that the Constitution guaranteed the right to receive education in the official language of one’s choice, where reasonably practicable, and noted that the law was a crucial step in addressing systemic inequalities and preparing children for success in life.

“We must ensure that no language is diminished. Rather, we must work to ensure that all official languages are valued and promoted,” he said.

Ramaphosa stressed that last week, the GNU clearing house submitted its final report, recommending the full implementation of the legislation without returning it to Parliament for amendments.

“The GNU clearing house participants agreed that the Act be fully implemented. This view was endorsed by the leaders of the parties to the GNU in a meeting I held with them today,” he said.

Ramaphosa has instructed Basic Education Minister Siviwe Gwarube to see to the full implementation of the legislation, ensuring that the education system was prepared for universal Grade R access and developing consequential regulations outlining the norms and standards for implementation.

The president called on all officials and bodies involved in the Act’s implementation to uphold constitutional principles, policies and regulations, emphasising the need to prioritise equality and quality in education.

“We must leave no child behind. Let us ensure that our children get the best education so that they can take our beautiful country and diverse nation forward to a prosperous future,” he said.

The announcement comes on the backdrop of weeks of increasing tension, with Solidarity and AfriForum insisting on the Act being implemented with Sections 4 and 5, concerning language and admission, be suspended until norms and regulations have been finalised.

Conversely, the SA Democratic Teachers’ Union had threatened legal and protest action unless Ramaphosa implemented the legislation in full.

INSIDE EDUCATION

By Thapelo Molefe

The Western Cape’s Back-on-Track programme, launched in 2023 to address the devastating learning losses caused by the Covid-19 pandemic, has delivered groundbreaking results. 

A recent independent evaluation by Stellenbosch University’s Research on Socio-Economic Policy revealed that Grade 7 learners in isiXhosa-medium schools achieved gains in maths equivalent to over 200 additional school days of learning.

The R1.2 billion initiative by the Western Cape education department specifically targeted pivotal years, Grades 4 and 7, through focused interventions for learners and innovative coaching for teachers. 

The outcomes highlight both the potential of targeted education programmes and the urgent need to expand such efforts to address systemic inefficiencies.

The programme combined learner specific Saturday classes and a teacher focused “1+9” coaching model, where educators received one day of intensive training followed by nine days of in-class implementation. 

The interventions aimed to bridge foundation gaps, particularly for learners in disadvantaged schools.

In Grade 4 Afrikaans medium classes, learners made equally impressive strides in language, gaining nearly 190 school days’ worth of progress. 

Meanwhile, teacher coaching proved transformative in English medium Grade 4 mathematics, achieving gains equivalent to 165 extra school days.

Despite the remarkable achievements of the programme, the evaluation revealed several systemic challenges that limited its overall impact. 

Participation rates were notably low, with only 3% of Grade 4 learners and 2% of Grade 7 learners attending more than half of the scheduled sessions. 

Additionally, data limitations hindered a comprehensive assessment of the programme’s effectiveness, as researchers were unable to directly link specific learners to the teachers who participated in the coaching interventions. 

This likely led to an underestimation of the full impact of the teacher focused component.

The evaluation also highlighted a critical issue – learners transitioning from African home languages to English as the medium of instruction in Grade 4 faced compounded difficulties due to pandemic disruptions. 

These learners benefited greatly from focused interventions, but the challenge remains vast and urgent.

While the Western Cape’s targeted approach has been effective, most other provinces lack similar interventions or the systemic testing needed to identify and address learning losses, Stellenbosch University said in a statement. 

It said as a result, learners across South Africa were likely falling further behind, particularly in disadvantaged communities.

The success of the Back-on-Track programme demonstrated the value of targeted, evidence-based initiatives. 

However, scaling these efforts and addressing systemic inefficiencies would be essential for lasting change, the university said.

It said by strategically directing resources toward foundational learning years, policymakers could help ensure that all learners had the opportunity to overcome pandemic induced setbacks.

INSIDE EDUCATION

By Alicia Mmashakana

Following a court ruling earlier this week, the Democratic Alliance (DA) has urged the Eastern Cape transport department to ensure that all qualifying learners are ferried to school.

The Makhanda High Court ruled on Tuesday that department’s failure to provide scholar transport to learners in the province was “unconstitutional” and “invalid”.

The judgment handed down by Judge Nicola Molony affects around 40,000 learners requiring transport. Many of them live in rural areas and have to travel long distances to get to school.

DA provincial education spokesperson Horatio Hendricks has welcomed the judgment, saying it was time for the department to ensure that children were no longer denied their basic right to education.

“There are no more excuses. The department must comply with the court order and ensure that every deserving learner has access to scholar transport at the beginning of the new academic year,” he said in a statement on Thursday.

Hendricks explained that to comply with the court’s verdict, the transport department in conjunction with the education department must finalise applications for transport by the end of next month.

It would also have to ensure that the outcome of every application for scholar transport was communicated within 10 days of the decision being taken, and where applications have been denied, reasons and details of the appeals process must be given.

Appeals must be finalised within 10 days of them being filed.

Hendricks said that where transport was not provided to qualifying learners and resulted in a qualifying learner missing school for more than a week during the 2024 academic week, sessions must be arranged over school holidays to catch up on missed work.

Over the next seven months, a comprehensive, updated report must be filed monthly with the court detailing the status of all learners in the province who have applied for scholar transport.

And, the department must provide the court with all steps taken to ensure that all qualifying learners are transported from the first day of the 2025 academic year.

The DA has also called for an end to school rationalisation, which has resulted in the closure of many small, primarily farm schools, until it can be guaranteed that every affected learner who requires scholar transport to attend schools further away has their transport fully funded.

“We commend the Legal Resources Centre and Khula Development Project for their efforts to bring this matter to light. While this ruling provides a glimmer of hope, it also exposes the systemic rot within the programme,” Hendricks said.

The DA has repeatedly called for reforms, including stricter oversight, independent audits and the return of scholar transport to the Department of Education for improved accountability.

“Scholar transport is not a luxury. It is a lifeline for thousands of children seeking education. We will continue to fight for their safety, their rights, and their future” he said.

INSIDE EDUCATION

By Johnathan Paoli

The SA Democratic Teachers’ Union (Sadtu) has rejected a proposal by Solidarity to navigate the impasse on the Basic Education Laws Amendment (Bela) Act.

Sadtu spokesperson Nomusa Cembi has reiterated the union’s threat of legal action if the legislation is not implemented, including the contentious sections 5 and 6 that deal with school admissions and language policy, despite the proposed negotiation by Solidarity.

“We call on the president to promulgate these two clauses in full, otherwise we will take him to court,” Cembi told Inside Education on Wednesday.

This follows Solidarity’s proposal to Sadtu for a “win-win solution”.

Solidarity CEO Dirk Herman maintained that there was no legal route for the immediate implementation of Bela in its entirety, and that there was a greater chance of resolving the dispute if ordinary workers engaged in dialogue rather than political parties fighting with each other.

Herman proposed a shift from divisive public discourse to constructive dialogue aimed at finding common ground acceptable to a broad spectrum of stakeholders, including the African National Congress, the Democratic Alliance, Sadtu and AfriForum.

He suggested that unresolved issues related to the legislation should form part of an upcoming national dialogue on education and development.

Solidarity has extended an invitation to the country’s largest teacher union to engage in discussions focusing on mother-tongue education for African language speakers.

Hermann highlighted that promoting multilingualism and improving access to quality education for the majority of learners must be central to these discussions.

He said that while the president was responsible for assenting to and proclaiming the commencement of the Act, Basic Education Minister Siviwe Gwarube must ensure the necessary norms, standards, regulations and policies were in place for its implementation.

Solidarity’s proposal includes recognising the work already done by Parliament and other stakeholders, as well as affirming the distinct responsibilities in implementing Bela.

The proposal further urges Gwarube to expedite the creation of regulation and policies, and says that any necessary legislative amendments, particularly those supporting mother-tongue education, follow standard legislative procedures.

This is based on an agreement reached between Solidarity and Gwarube at the National Economic Development and Labour Council (Nedlac).

Hermann reiterated the urgency of resolving the matter, saying he believed that a unified approach could have far-reaching benefits for the nation’s education system and societal development.

However, Cembi criticised what she claimed as an incorrect perspective regarding the law.

“It is wrong for Solidarity to say the president can announce that the Act will be implemented in full once the norms and standards are in place and policies have been developed. The correct route is that the Act is declared or promulgated and then the regulations follow,” Cembi said.

The union previously threatened both legal and protest action on the first day of school next year if the Presidency decided against the full implementation of the legislation as well as the exclusion of the tripartite alliance partners from the discussions.

The three-month discussion period for parties in the Government of National Unity on the clauses ended last Friday, after Ramaphosa put a hold on implementation of the law to allow for the discussions in September.

Sadtu general secretary Mugwena Maluleke said the Congress of SA Trade Unions was excluded from the discussions, despite being the convener of the labour constituency at Nedlac.

The SA Communist Party has also backed the union.

Earlier in the month, Presidency spokesperson Vincent Magwenya said the Nedlac agreement has no power to influence Ramaphosa’s final decision on the matter.

Magwenya said Solidarity was just one among many interested parties in the matter and that the deal had no bearing, in law or practical effect, on the GNU discussions.

He said the next step was for the president to determine the date of commencement of the law and for the necessary regulations to be finalised.

INSIDE EDUCATION

By Thapelo Molefe

The University of Cape Town has paid tribute to its esteemed Registrar, Royston Pillay, who will be taking early retirement at the end of December. 

With a remarkable 27 years of dedication and service to the institution, Pillay leaves behind a legacy of commitment and excellence.

“Pillay’s tenure at UCT has been nothing short of transformative… His presence will be greatly missed, but his impact will endure in the fabric of our university,” said UCT Vice-Chancellor Mosa Moshabela.

During his time at UCT, Pillay has held various important positions, including head of the student affairs secretariat, faculty manager for the Faculty of Humanities and director of student admissions. 

As Registrar, he played an integral part in the governance and academic framework of the university, ensuring the smooth functioning of critical governance bodies.

He successfully established a seamless online registration process through Project Harambee, greatly improving the efficiency of the registration process for students. Additionally, he oversaw a staggering 145 graduation ceremonies, celebrating the achievements of over 60,000 graduates. 

During the Covid-19 pandemic, Pillay ensured the safe continuation of graduation ceremonies by implementing a hybrid approach, which included virtual celebrations and outdoor walks of celebration. 

Furthermore, he provided dedicated support across three council terms, demonstrating his commitment to the university’s governance and leadership. 

Moshabela praised Pillay’s leadership, saying: “He has been the backbone of our administration, ensuring that everything… has been executed with efficiency and diligence. His quiet but steady leadership has made a huge difference to the student experience.”

The VC also expressed his gratitude to Pillay, for his “sterling” leadership throughout his tenure at UCT.

“His calm stewardship and dedication to the university’s interests at all times… have been very important in preserving the values and mission of the university.”

As Pillay departs, the university community remembers these words of wisdom.

“In the words of Desmond Tutu, ‘Do your little bit of good where you are; it’s those little bits of good put together that overwhelm the world’. Mr Pillay’s many ‘little bits of good’ have indeed overwhelmed UCT in the most profound way,” Moshabela noted.

INSIDE EDUCATION

By Thapelo Molefe

Basic Education director-general Mathanzima Mweli is pleased with the process of marking the National Senior Certificate exam papers.

He has also praised the dedication of educators and the meticulous measures that were put in place to ensure accuracy and integrity.

Mweli visited all 183 marking centres across South Africa in 13 days as part of overseeing this critical phase of the exam, which concluded on Saturday. There were total of 50,741 markers.

Speaking to Inside Education, Mweli highlighted the seamless execution of the marking process and why the visits were important.

“The visits were intended to convey appreciation from the minister, deputy minister, and myself to the markers for their sacrifice in undertaking this exercise under very stringent and controlled conditions,” Mweli said.

“The feedback from marking centres post-visit was overwhelmingly positive.”

Mweli noted that the marking conditions including accommodation, venues, and meals met high standards, with contingency plans effectively addressing challenges like load-shedding and extreme temperatures.

The process unfolded in two staggered sessions, starting on 16 November and concluding on 14 December. It included multiple layers of quality assurance, such as moderation by senior markers, chief markers and internal moderators, coupled with external checks by the department and Umalusi.

“This rigorous process ensures the highest quality of marking,” Mweli explained.

“Every script, over 10.3 million in total, was carefully checked for completeness and accuracy before being captured on the national examination computer system.”

While Mweli expressed satisfaction with the overall NSC process, he acknowledged its emotional toll as four markers had died.

“One from the Northern Cape fell ill, another in Gauteng succumbed to injuries after a fall, a Limpopo marker passed away shortly after returning home and a fourth was a victim of a hijacking. These incidents have left us deeply saddened, and we extend our heartfelt condolences to their families,” he said.

Mweli emphasised that the strict adherence to regulations prevented any security breaches. 

“Security at marking centres is tightly controlled, with clear protocols ensuring no unauthorised individuals gain access and no scripts leave the venue without authorisation,” he said.

With marking completed, the next steps included the processing and standardisation of marks by Umalusi. 

Despite some challenges, Mweli affirmed confidence in the integrity of the NSC process, underscoring its critical role in upholding the credibility of South Africa’s education system.

“I am extremely satisfied with how the NSC examination processes have unfolded so far,” he told Inside Education.

INSIDE EDUCATION

By Johnathan Paoli

The Suid Afrikaanse Onderwyse Unie (SAOU) has reiterated its demand for the North West education department to submit a new report concerning the post provision mechanisms (PPMs) to schools, following inaccuracies and delays in previous attempts.

Speaking to Inside Education on Monday, SAOU provincial secretary Johan Kruger, expressed his disappointment in the department’s delay in attending the matter.

“Unfortunately, the department left everybody in the dark, so to speak. The PPMs are incorrect. The department does not even answer our attorney letters,” Kruger said.

The union issued a letter of demand earlier in the month, calling on the department to withdraw the PPM report compiled late November as it allegedly contains numerous inaccuracies.

However, Kruger confirmed the department had failed to respond to the demand by the deadline and that, SAOU was currently considering taking further legal steps.

Additionally, the letter demanded written confirmation that the same PPM as was set for 2024, be applied to public schools in respect of the 2025 academic year.

The union claims that more than 100 schools in the province are affected by the adjusted PPM.

“The result of the unlawful conduct by the department is that principals and educators are placed under enormous stress because they are not able to finalise their planning for 2025. Ultimately, quality education is negatively affected,” the letter reads.

Last month, in a letter to education MEC Viola Motsumi, HOD Maropeng Seshibe and other senior education officials, Kruger expressed grave concern over the department’s inability to meet its statutory obligations.

He said some of the key errors included inconsistent weightings used to calculate teacher allocations being inexplicably increased, and several primary schools reporting that Grade R enrolments were omitted from calculations, reducing their post allocations.

And, schools catering to learners with special educational needs found discrepancies in weightings based on disability classifications, while some schools did not receive the additional posts promised in initial drafts.

It is understood that department will announce a comprehensive PPM report later this week, as well as other measures to be undertaken to address the crisis.

INSIDE EDUCATION

By Johnathan Paoli

KwaZulu-Natal will host a National Student Financial Aid Scheme student accommodation workshop, bringing together key stakeholders to address critical issues affecting student accommodation and formulate strategies for the 2025 academic year.

The workshop, which will be held in Durban on Tuesday and Wednesday, is expected be led by NSFAS administrator Freeman Nomvalo.

It will provide a platform for collaboration among universities, Technical Vocational Education and Training colleges, student representatives and accommodation providers.

NSFAS spokesperson Anele Ntswayi said with the rising demand for affordable, high-quality and accessible student housing, the workshop sought to develop actionable solutions to stabilise and enhance the student accommodation ecosystem.

Ntswayi confirmed the workshop would focus on three main goals including encouraging collaboration between NSFAS and other stakeholders to foster a coordinated approach to student housing challenges.

Additionally, planning for 2025 would help create clear strategies to address current gaps and ensure smoother accommodation services for the next academic year.

The workshop would address core challenges by tackling pressing issues such as the affordability, quality and accessibility of student accommodation to ensure all students had a conducive living and learning environment.

He said student accommodation remained a critical concern in South Africa’s higher education sector, with many students facing inadequate housing options, often compromising their academic performance and overall well-being.

As the primary financial aid provider for underprivileged students, the NSFAS recognises the urgent need to streamline and enhance the accommodation process.

The workshop sessions will feature discussions on policy, infrastructure and innovative funding models to ensure affordable and high-quality student housing.

KwaZulu-Natal is among the top three provinces, including Gauteng and the Eastern Cape, that have required detailed attention from the scheme to clear student accommodation claims.

Nomvalo confirmed that he would ensure all legitimate claims would be settled by the end of the year.

The province’s largest student accommodation development commenced construction last month near the main gate of the University of KwaZulu-Natal’s Howard College campus in Durban’s Berea.

The R800 million project, led by Growthpoint Properties under its Thrive Student Living brand, is expected to provide 2400 student beds, addressing the student housing shortage.

INSIDE EDUCATION