Success of BELA Bill lies in collaboration – education expert
An education expert believes school language policies can only be successful if there is buy-in from the institution and parents.
Vimolan Mudaly’s comments come after Parliament’s Portfolio Committee on Basic Education adopted the controversial Basic Education Laws Amendment Bill, known as the BELA Bill.
The bill proposes changes to financial administration of schools and the starting age for compulsory education.
It will also affect language policies, admission policies and home-schooling.
The amendment’s language policy has been met with some resistance, with some saying it gives government a greater say over a school’s language policy.
The bill is now on its way to the National Assembly for approval.
Mudaly says the devil will be in the detail.
"I think it will be difficult for the province to themselves to establish what each school language policy ought to. We cannot predict what languages will be prevalent and spoken.
"Do I think ultimately the province can determine the broad outlines as to what the policy ought to be and how the policy ought to be used, what should be done and what should be engaged with parents, educators and learners."
