The Basic Education Laws Amendment (BELA) Bill was recently authorised through the South African Parliament and it is now just ready being signed into law with the President.

The Act will introduce sizeable adjustments for the South African Schools Act as well as the Employment of Educators Act to better align with modern instructional demands and difficulties.

Critical provisions of the BELA Bill incorporate:

Compulsory Grade R: The Bill makes it obligatory for children to start out school at Grade R, with official penalties for parents who fail to enroll their children​​.

Corporal get more info Punishment: The Bill reinforces the ban on corporal punishment and prohibits other varieties bela bill schools of punishment that will 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 read more 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 the management of learner pregnancies in schools​.