By Thapelo Molefe
Basic Education Minister Siviwe Gwarube has gazetted the first two sets of draft regulations under the Basic Education Laws Amendment (Bela) Act for public comment, which are aimed at reforming the country’s schooling system.
These are the first draft regulations to be published since the law came into effect last year.
The publication follows months of deliberation and mounting pressure from Parliament’s Portfolio Committee on Basic Education, which had called on Gwarube to finalise and publish the 10 regulations required to operationalise the law.
Among the key provisions in the newly released regulations is a clause on school capacity, which states that from Grade 1 to Grade 12, there must be one teacher to a maximum of 40 learners.
In a statement on Thursday, Gwarube said the regulations were designed to ensure that the amendments introduced by the Act were implemented in a manner that upheld learners’ rights, enhanced school functionality and maintained a careful balance of powers between school governing bodies (SGBs) and government.
“The release of these regulations is an important opportunity for education stakeholders and the broader South African public to actively shape the future of basic education in our country,” Gwarube said.
“These regulations are instruments that will affect how schools are governed and managed, how children are admitted and how our values as a society are reflected in our education system.”
The Act is aimed at improving governance, enhancing equity and elevating the quality of education for South Africa’s 13.5 million learners.
“I call on all South Africans… to participate meaningfully in this public comment process. Your voice matters. Let it be heard in shaping the policies and regulations that govern the education of your children,” the minister urged.
To facilitate engagement, the department announced plans to launch a national public awareness campaign aimed at helping communities understand the content of the proposed regulations and make informed submissions.
The department has also adopted a modular approach to publishing the regulations to avoid delays associated with bulk releases.
Gwarube said further regulations would be released for public comment once they were legally vetted and approved.
Public submissions on the current draft regulations will be accepted for 30 days, closing on 5 September. Comments can be submitted through the department’s website.
INSIDE EDUCATION
