NN 01/2025
PROMULGERING VAN DIE WYSIGING VAN DIE SUID-AFRIKAANSE SKOLEWET
Vanaf 13 Desember 2024 tot en met 24 Desember 2024, was daar ‘n verkeidenheid van aankondigings en mediaverklarings deur beide die Staatspresident en die Minister van Basiese Onderwys (MBO). Die uiteinde hiervan was die promulgering van die wysigings van die Suid-Afrikaanse Skolewet op 24 Desember 2024. Die tydsberekening van die promulgering plaas die stelsel onder onnodige druk en onsekerheid.
1. Waar staan ons tans met die wysigings aan die SA Skolewet (BELA)?
Die Staatspresident het ‘n verklaring uitgereik wat aandui dat die MBO deur die Staatspresident opdrag gegee is om toe te sien dat die wysigings geïmplementeer word. Die SAOU neem kennis dat die baie lang proses wat tot op hede gevolg is tot ‘n einde gekom het deur die aankondiging van President Ramaphosa op 20 Desember 2024. Hiermee saam is egter ook aangedui dat norme en standaarde vir die wetgewing opgestel moet word.
Die MBO het op 21 Desember 2024 ‘n mediakonferensie gehou waartydens sy dit duidelik gestel het dat sy die tydsraamwerk vir die implementering sal bepaal maar dat die daarstel van die norme en standarde tot en met 18 maande sou kon duur.
Op 24 Desember 2024 het die President die Suid-Afrikaanse Skolewet met die nodige wysigings in die Staatkoerant geproklameer.
Hier is steeds baie grys areas waar daar nie duidelik uitgestippel word wat gaan gebeur as die skole heropen nie. Die MBO het aangedui dat die Departement van Basiese Onderwys (DBO) teen 31 Januarie 2025 wel kommunikasie gereed sal hê oor sekere kwessies.
Daar is sekere prosesse wat steeds onderneem word en die SAOU vorm ‘n deel hiervan om te verseker dat elke leerder in die land die beste moontlike geleentheid tot onderrig ontvang. Dit is egter vir die SAOU noodsaaklik dat onderwysers en skoolbestuurspanne so goed moontlik ondersteun moet word.
2. Hoe raak dit die strategiese bestuur van skole met die oog op opening in Januarie 2025?
2.1 Die toelating van Graad R-leerders in 2025
Die bywoning van Graad R word verpligtend. Dit beteken dat die Suid-Afrikaanse skoolstelsel nie meer gegrond is op 12 jaar nie, maar in wese na 13 jaar verleng word. Dit plaas die stelsel in lyn met Europese skoolstelsels.
Alle leerders wat in die komende jaar 6 jaar oud word, sal verplig wees om aan te meld om in Graad R toegelaat te word.
Die wet sluit ook nou ‘n strafklousule vir ouers (of ander persone) in. Dit beteken dat enige persoon wat ‘n leerder wat skoolpligtig is weerhou om skool by te woon, gestraf sou kon word.
Dit is wat die wet tans kommunikeer, maar die praktiese uitvoerbaarheid hiervan noodsaak die MBO om duidelike implementeringsplanne op die tafel te plaas.
Die aanname is dat skole wat geregistreer het om Graad R aan te bied (dus ook kleuterskole) sal steeds toegelaat word om leerders in te neem.
Die inname van Graad R-leerders aan primêre skole is onderhewig aan die kapasiteit van die skool om hierdie leerders te kan akkommodeer. Dit wil sê dat daar genoegsame onderwysers en fasiliteite beskikbaar moet wees voordat leerders toegelaat kan word.
Die praktiese uitvoerbaarheid van hierdie artikel sal egter deur die MBO se riglyndokumente omskryf moet word.
2.2 Die druk op toelating veral in Graad 1 en 8 in 2025
Die onredelike druk wat Provinsiale Onderwysdepartemente op skole plaas om addisionele leerders in te neem en die hantering daarvan is al verskeie kere oor gekommunikeer. Hiermee net weer ‘n kort opsomming.
- Die skool se huidige toelatingsbeleid en taalbeleid is steeds geldig.
- Wanneer die skool gekonfronteer word met groepe leerders wat deur Provinsiale Onderwysdepartement by die skool ingeneem moet word, moet die Skoolhoof dit duidelik stel dat die versoek op skrif moet wees en gerig word aan die Beheerliggaam van die skool.
- In hierdie geval sal die kapasiteitsbepaling van u skool steeds geldig wees om te bepaal of die skool vol is, al dan nie. Oorweeg die 18 kriteria wat steeds geldend is totdat die regulasies vir die bepaling van skoolkapasiteit geformuleer is, soos gestel in NN 33/2023.
- Om ‘n enkelmediumskool se taalbeleid te verander na ‘n meertalige skool, word nou duidelik uitgestippel in artikel 6 (7-9) van die wet, maar is steeds onderhewig aan die kapasiteit van die skool, wat die sleutelfaktor is.
2.3 Wat is die gesag van die Departementshoof van die Provinsie in terme van toelatingsbeleid?
Een van die aspekte wat herhaaldelik deur verskeie entiteite bevraagteken is, is die vermindering van die gesag van Beheerliggame en die verhoogde gesag van die Departementshoof van die Provinsie. Dit het direk betrekking op die toelating van leerders tot die skool.
Daar is steeds nie duidelike praktiese riglyne vir die implementering nie. Die wet dui egter aan dat:
- Die Beheerliggaam steeds ‘n leidende rol speel in die vasstel van die toelatingsbeleid van die skool;
- Die Departementshoof slegs ‘n aanbeveling vir toelating kan rig, na konsultasie met die Beheerliggaam van die skool; en
- Die kapasiteit van die skool steeds toelating bepaal.
2.4 Wat is die gesag van die Departementshoof van die Provinsie in terme van taalbeleid?
‘n Tweede punt van bespreking het gehandel oor die skool se taalbeleid. Die wetgewing stel die Departementshoof van die Provinsie in staat om:
- Aan te dui dat Suid-Afrikaanse Gebaretaal as amptelike taal gestel kan word;
- •Waar dit prakties moontlik is, meer as een taal van onderrig en leer in ‘n skool te implementeer. Hierdie is egter onderhewig aan ‘n reeks aksies soos uiteengesit in artikel 6 (7-9); en
- •Wanneer die Departementshoof wel so ‘n direktief uitvaardig, alle nodige stappe geneem moet word om te verseker dat die nodige hulpbronne ontvang word om die skool in staat te stel om die nodige onderrig en leer te kan verskaf.
3. Daar is verskeie finansiële brandpunte wat die Skoolhoof saam met die Beheerliggaam aan moet aandag gee.
3.1 Wat gebeur met die kwartaalikse finansiële state?
Hierdie word uiteengesit in artikel 42(5) en is nou van krag. Ons verstaan die versugting van Skoolbegeerliggame rakende hierdie kwartaallikse indiening van finansiële state. Ons is dit eens dat daar op nasionale vlak voorskrifte ontwikkel gaan word wat dit maklik en vaartbelyn sal maak. Ons stel egter voor dat die skool reeds ‘n een-bladsy verslag moet kan voorhou indien daar nog nie reëlings deur u plaaslike distrikkantoor in plek is nie.
3.2 ‘n Begrotingsitem is 10% oor begroting, wat staan my te doen?
Die vereiste prosedure soos uiteengesit in artikel 38 moet gevolg word. Hierdie is dieselfde proses wat gevolg word vir die ouervergadering in die vierde kwartaal wanneer die begroting goedgekeur word. U moet let dat die eerste vergadering ‘n kworum van 10% moet hê en die daaropvolgende vergadering, indien daar nie ‘n korum bereik is by die eerste vergadering nie, geen kworum benodig word vir die tweede vergadering nie.
3.3 Leerderondersteuningmateriaal en sentrale aankope. Wat staan my te doen?
Artikel 21(3A) is hier van toepassing. Indien u Provinsiale Onderwysdepartement hier begin voelers uitsteek, maak kontak met u beheerliggaam organisasie vir die presiese hantering. Die artikel laat toe dat Beheerliggame, indien voldoende bewys gelewer kan word, vrygestel word van die proses.
4. Wie word gekontak as die Skoolhoof ondersteuning nodig het?
Die tydsberekening van die promulgering deur die Staatspresident op 24 Desember 2024 plaas die stelsel onder druk omdat die onduidelikhede rakende implementering met skoolheropening oop is vir skewe interpretering.
Die SAOU is hier om jou te ondersteun! Skakel gerus met die Provinsiale Sekretaris van jou betrokke provinsie as eerste kontakpunt. Die SAOU Dienssentrum sal ook beskikbaar wees om jou na ons Regsafdeling te verwys vir die nodige leiding in die verband.
U word ook verwys na die volgende nuusbriewe: NN 34/2024; NN 41/2023; en NN 02/2023
BELA 2025: QUO VADIS?
📣 Belangrike Inligting: Ons nooi u na ‘n webinaar waar belangrike riglyne vir die hantering en bestuur van BELA met skoolopening bespreek word.
🖥️*Gratis webinaar
🗓️*10/01/2025
🕑*14:00 – 16:00
🎙️Paul Sauer, Juané van der Merwe, Dems Nel
Om te registreer, klik op die onderstaande skakel:
🔗https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_-hJc7H-VR-KP9eSlyaE0vQ
📌❗*Skakel in om te verseker dat u gereed is om die uitdagings met betrekking tot BELA, suksesvol aan te pak.
2025/01/07
PROMULGATION OF THE AMENDMENT OF THE SOUTH AFRICAN SCHOOLS ACT
From 13 December 2024 to 24 December 2024, the State President and the Minister of Basic Education (MBE) made a series of announcements and media statements. The culmination of this was the promulgation of the amendments to the South African Schools Act on 24 December 2024. The timing of the promulgation places the system under unnecessary pressure and uncertainty.
1. Where do we currently stand with the amendments to the SA Schools Act (BELA)?
The State President has issued a statement indicating that the MBE has been instructed by the State President to ensure that the amendments are implemented. The SAOU notes that the extended process that has been followed to date has come to an end with the announcement of President Ramaphosa on 20 December 2024. However, it was also indicated that norms and standards for the legislation must be formulated.
The MBE held a media conference on 21 December 2024 during which she made it clear that she would determine the timeframe for implementation but that the establishment of the necessary guidelines could take up to 18 months.
On 24 December 2024, the President proclaimed the South African Schools Act with the necessary amendments in the Government Gazette.
There are still many grey areas here where it is not clearly outlined what will happen when the schools reopen. The MBE has indicated that the Department of Basic Education (DBE) will communicate on certain issues by 31 January 2025.
There are certain processes that are still being undertaken and the SAOU forms part of this to ensure that every learner in the country receives the best possible opportunity for education. However, it is essential for the SAOU that teachers and school management teams are supported as best as possible.
2. How does this affect the strategic management of schools with a view to opening in January 2025?
2.1 The admission of Grade R learners in 2025
Attendance at Grade R becomes compulsory. This means that the South African school system is no longer based on 12 years, but is essentially extended to 13 years. This places the system in line with European school systems.
All learners who turn 6 years old in the coming year, will be obliged to register to be admitted to Grade R.
The law also now includes a penalty clause for parents (or other persons). This means that any person who prevents a learner who is of school age from attending school, could be punished.
This is what the law currently communicates, but the practical feasibility of this requires the MBE to put clear implementation plans on the table.
The assumption is that schools that have registered to offer Grade R (and therefore also nursery schools) will still be allowed to admit learners.
The admission of Grade R learners to primary schools is subject to the capacity of the primary school to accommodate these learners. This means that sufficient teachers and facilities must be available before learners can be admitted.
However, the practical feasibility of this article will have to be defined by the guideline documents of the MBE.
2.2 The pressure on admission, especially in Grades 1 and 8 in 2025
The unreasonable pressure that Provincial Education Departments place on schools to admit additional learners and the management thereof has been communicated several times. Herewith is just a brief summary again.
- The school's current admission policy and language policy are still valid.
- When the school is confronted with groups of learners who must be admitted to the school by the Provincial Education Department, the Principal must make it clear that the request must be in writing and addressed to the Governing Body of the school.
- In this instance, the capacity determination of your school will still be valid to determine whether the school is full or not. Consider the 18 criteria that are still in force until the regulations for the determination of school capacity have been formulated, as stated in NN 33/2023.
- Changing the language policy of a single medium school to a multilingual school is now clearly outlined in section 6 (7-9) of the law, but the capacity of the school is still the determining factor.
2.3 What is the authority of the Head of Department of the Province in terms of admission policy?
One of the aspects that has been repeatedly questioned by various entities is the reduction of the authority of Governing Bodies and the increased authority of the Head of Department of the Province. This directly relates to the admission of learners to the school.
There are still no clear practical guidelines for implementation. However, the law indicates that:
- The Governing Body still plays a leading role in determining the admission policy of the school;
- The Head of Department can only make a recommendation for admission, after consultation with the Governing Body of the school; and
- The capacity of the school still determines admission.
2.4 The authority of the Head of Department of the Province in terms of language policy
A second point of discussion dealt with the school's language policy. The legislation enables the Head of Department of the Province to:
- Indicate that South African Sign Language can be set as an official language;
- Where practically possible, to implement more than one language of teaching and learning in a school. This is however subject to a series of actions as set out in section 6 (7-9)
- When the Head of Department issues such a directive, all necessary steps must be taken to ensure that the required resources are received to enable the school to provide the relevant teaching and learning.
3.There are several financial hotspots that the Principal must address together with the Governing Body.
3.1 What happens to the quarterly financial statements?
This is set out in section 42(5) and is now in force. We understand the frustration of School Governing Bodies regarding the quarterly submission of financial statements. We agree that directives will be developed at national level, which will make it easy and streamlined. However, we suggest that the school should be able to present a one-page report already should the arrangements of your local district office are not yet in place.
3.2 A budget item is 10% over budget, what am I to do?
The required procedure set out in section 38 must be followed. This is the same process that is followed for the fourth-quarter parent meeting when the budget is approved. You should note that the first meeting must have a quorum of 10% and the subsequent meeting, if a quorum was not reached at the first meeting, no quorum is required for the second meeting.
3.3 Learner support materials and central purchases. What am I to do?
Article 21(3A) of the act applies here. If your Provincial Education Department starts making inquiries, contact your governing body organisation for the exact handling. This article allows Governing Bodies, if sufficient evidence can be provided, to exempt themselves from the process.
4. Who can be contacted if the Principal needs support?
The timing of the State President's promulgation on 24 December 2024 puts the system under pressure because implementation, with all the uncertainties, will be open to different interpretations when the schools open in 2025.
The SAOU is here to support you! Please contact the Provincial Secretary of your relevant province as the first point of contact; the SAOU Service Centre will also be available to refer you to our Legal Services for the necessary guidance in this regard.
You are also referred to the following newsletters: NN 34/2024; NN 41/2023; and NN 02/2023.
BELA 2025: QUO VADIS?
📣 Important Information: We invite you to a webinar where important guidelines for the handling and management of BELA with opening of schools are discussed.
🖥️*Free webinar
🗓️*10/01/2025
🕑*14:00 – 16:00
🎙️Paul Sauer, Juané van der Merwe, Dems Nel
To register, click on the following link:
🔗https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_-hJc7H-VR-KP9eSlyaE0vQ
📌❗Join us to ensure that you are ready to successfully tackle the challenges of BELA.
