The African National Congress (ANC) has called on President Cyril Ramaphosa to fully proclaim the Basic Education Amendment Act (BELA) Bill, a crucial step in transforming South Africa’s education system.
The ANC also supports measures to strengthen standards and regulations on admissions and language policies to ensure an inclusive and equitable framework for all learners.
Describing the Act as a significant milestone, the ANC emphasised that BELA Bill builds on the achievements of post-1994 reforms and addresses key areas such as early childhood education, recognition of sign language as an official language, curriculum development, and the regulation of special education schools.
According to ANC spokesperson Mahlengi Bhengu, "The BELA Act strengthens multilingualism in education and advances the constitutional vision of unity in diversity, addressing the historical marginalisation of indigenous African languages."
A key provision of the Act, Sections 4 and 5, clarifies the roles of school governing bodies (SGBs) and provincial heads of departments regarding admissions and language policies.
These provisions aim to correct historical inequalities where language and admissions policies were often used to exclude black learners.
The ANC is resolute in ensuring that no child is discriminated against based on language or any other grounds. Bhengu stated, "We remain committed to ensuring quality education for all, regardless of their background."
While the Act has undergone extensive consultation, opposition has emerged, particularly from groups concerned about the impact of Sections 4 and 5 on Afrikaans-medium schools.
The ANC acknowledges these concerns, but rejects any attempts to defend "white privilege" and resist transformation.
"The protests by Afrikaner organisations on November 5 revealed underlying motives of exclusion and resistance to change," Bhengu said.
The ANC urges the Pan South African Language Board (PANSLAB) to actively promote mother-tongue education and calls for a national conference to advance multilingualism in both schools and higher education.
The party stresses the importance of protecting all official languages, particularly indigenous African languages, which faced severe discrimination under apartheid.
Moreover, the ANC reaffirms its commitment to ensuring equal access to education for all learners, regardless of race, language, or economic status.
"Ensuring equal access for all learners is central to building a united, non-racial, and equitable South Africa, as envisioned in the Freedom Charter,'' Bhengu said.
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