Basic Education Bill

NIGHT TALK

The National Assembly has passed the Basic Education Laws Bill. It was adopted in the National Assembly today and will now be sent to President Ramaphosa to be signed into law. A total of 223 MPs voted in support of the bill, while 78 voted against it.

To chat more on what this bill is about and what it aims to achieve I am joined by

Guest: Nomusa Cembi, Spokesperson - SADTU (South African Democratic Teachers Union)

• First, as the teachers - are you happy with the passing of this bill?
• A quick background and what led to the drafting of this bill in the first place.
• What is the bill all about and what does it aim to achieve?
• This bill proposes a number of changed to the SA Schools ACT - including that of of a school language’s policies and curriculums - can you break that down for us
• The bill also touches on other issues like: the introduction of Grade R to learner attendance, Code of Conduct for learners, Home Education, rationalisation of schools, abolishment of corporal punishment and initiations, language policy, admission policy, criminalisation of disruptions not school.
• Now, it’s going to be sent to the President to sign it into but there are still section of society not happy with it - what do you make of that?
• If it gets to be signed, how will it strengthen our education system?

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On something else, there’s been a rise in school violence again with learners attacking teachers or just teachers being in danger - as Sadt, how are you dealing with this?

As South Africa goes to the elections and wrapping up the sixth administration, would you say you’re happy with the state of education at the moment?