The Basic Education Laws Amendment (BELA) Bill was not long ago accepted because of the South African Parliament which is now just ready to generally be signed into law by the President.

The Act will introduce important alterations towards the South African Schools Act plus the Employment of Educators Act to better align with up to date educational wants and challenges.

Vital provisions on the BELA Bill consist of:

Compulsory Grade R: The Bill can make it necessary for youngsters to begin school at Grade R, with official penalties for parents who are unsuccessful to enroll their young children​​.

Corporal Punishment: The Bill reinforces the ban on corporal punishment and prohibits here other types of punishment which 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 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​.