WESTERN CAPE NEWS - The Pestalozzi Trust has requested an extension of the time allowed for comment on the proposed draft BELA Bill (Basic Education Laws Amendment Bill), as it feels this is another draconian attempt to nip individualised home education in the bud.
Angie Motshekga, minister of Basic Education, gazetted the draft BELA Bill in the Government Gazette on 13 October and members of the public have the right to comment on the draft until tomorrow, Friday 10 November.
Motshekga says, "The draft Basic Education Laws Amendment Bill proposes to amend the South African Schools Act, 1996 (Act No. 84 of 1996), and the Employment of Educators Act, 1998 (Act No. 76 of 1998), to align them with developments in the education landscape and to ensure that systems of learning and excellence in education are put in place in a manner which respects, protects, promotes and fulfils the right to basic education enshrined in Section 29 (1) of the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa."
Pestalozzi Trust was established in 1998 by a group of Christians to protect the rights and freedom of all families to educate their children at home according to their own religious and philosophical persuasions and cultural traditions.
This means that they can educate their children lawfully and without unjustified interference.
The next few months will decide the future of home education in South Africa and the trust earnestly requests that all homeschoolers support the fight and contribute by way of submission to oppose the draft BELA Bill.
Comments should reach the department by 10 November.
Comments should indicate the name and detailed contact information of the person or organisation submitting them, and should be directed to the Director-General, Private Bag X895, Pretoria, 0001, for attention: Adv. TD Rudman, tel. 012 357 3856, email rudman.d@dbe.gov.za , fax 012 323 9430
See letter by Concerned Citizen on this topic on the George Herald letters page.
'We bring you the latest Garden Route, Hessequa, Klein Karoo'
