BELA Bill should have been implemented ages ago, says Ramaphosa
President Cyril Ramaphosa has described the signing into law of the Basic Education Laws Amendment Bill as another step to reforming the education system.
Ramaphosa signed the bill into law on Friday.
It aims to strengthen governance within the country's education sector as part of the state’s ongoing efforts to build an education system that is more effective and more equitable.
The bill proposes to give provincial Heads of Departments more control over schools' language and admission policies, removing some decision-making power from School Governing Bodies.
The language policy has been seen as a direct attack on schools that teach in Afrikaans, with critics stating that it undermines the constitutional right to mother-tongue education.
Ramaphosa, however, defended the bill as an affirmation of the vision of an equal society.
"The signing of this bill marks an important step towards resolving long-standing challenges in our education system. It was President Nelson Mandela who said that it is not beyond our power to create a world in which all children have access to a good education.
"This law is part of our ongoing effort to create such a world, a transformed world.
"Since the advent of democracy, we have made notable progress in expanding access to education for children of our country. However, barriers, as we all know, continue to exist in a number of areas with regard to access. In many respects, education outcomes fall short of what our society needs and what the young people of our country deserve.
"Our constitution enshrines the right of all to a basic education. It requires that when advancing this right, consideration should be given to equity, to practicability, as well as to historical redress. As a country, we are a signatory to a global set of treaties that oblige us to advance universal access to education."
Ramaphosa said he believes the bill should have been implemented decades ago.
"This will enhance our focus on early childhood development, which we should have done years ago. If you talk about transformation, yes, we are a bit late, maybe 20 years late, but nonetheless, we have arrived.
"We should have started right from the beginning by focusing on early childhood development. But this is where we are because it will ensure young children are better prepared for formal schooling.”
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