NN 25/2026
TOELATING VAN LEERDERS IN SKOLE BLY STEEDS ‘N BEHEERLIGGAAM AANGELEENTHEID
Die Gewysigde Suid-Afrikaanse Skolewet (Skolewet) het in September 2025 in werking getree. Sedertdien het die SAOU asook ander onderwyskundiges en afgevaardigdes van die Departement van Onderwys op taakspanne gedien om Nasionale regulasies op te stel. Die doel van hierdie regulasies is om die implimentering van die gewysigde Skolewet te reguleer.
Van hierdie regulasies handel onder andere oor skole se toelatingsbeleide wat geleidelik in die Staatskoerant gepubliseer was vir openbare kommentaar, namate die Departement van Basiese Onderwys werk aan die volle implementering daarvan.
Wat is die SAOU se uitgangspunt oor ‘n skool se toelatingsbeleid?
Die behoud van ‘n samewerkende verhouding tussen beheerliggame en die staat wanneer dit kom by die toelating- en taalbeleid van ‘n skool, is vir die SAOU baie belangrik.
Terwyl die regulasies nog gefinaliseer word, bevestig die SAOU hul posisie as volg:
- Die Departement mag slegs leerders by ‘n skool plaas indien artikel 5 en 5A van die Skolewet toegepas word. Dit beteken dat die toelatingsbeleid van die skool steeds geld.
- Die medium (taal) van onderrig mag slegs gewysig word indien die gereguleerde proses gevolg word, die omstandighede dit regverdig en indien vooraf konsultasie tussen die Provinsiale Departement van Onderwys en die beheerliggaam plaasgevind, het soos omskryf in artikel 6 van die Skolewet.
Wat staan ‘n skool te doen indien daar druk vanaf ‘n provinsiale onderwysdepartement uitgeoefen word om leerders toe te laat?
Die SAOU dra kennis dat onderskeie provinsiale onderwysdepartemente nie graag met beheerliggame oor die toelating van leerders wil onderhandel nie en dat daar eerder gepoog word om druk op skoolhoofde uit te oefen.
Die SAOU herinner lede aan die tussentydse interdik wat teen die Noord-Wes Onderwysdepartement verkry is nadat laasgenoemde sowat 80 leerders by die Swartruggens gekombineerde skool geplaas het sonder enige vooraf-konsultasie soos voorgeskryf deur die gewysigde Skolewet.
Die SAOU moedig skoolhoofde dus aan om die volgende hanteringswyse te volg wanneer hul gedwing word om leerders in hul skole toe te laat:
- Alle navrae en opdragte wat die eensydige verhoging van skoolkapasiteit aan hulle opdwing, na die beheerliggaam verwys moet word vir gepaste oorweging;
- Om so spoedig doenlik met die betrokke SAOU provinsiale sekretaris in verbinding te tree indien daar onredelike en/of onregmatige druk op die skoolhoof uitgeoefen word ten einde die SAOU in staat te stel om tydige en gepaste advies te voorsien; en
- Onverwyld met die tersaaklike voorsitter van die beheerliggaam en die betrokke beheerliggaam organisasie in verbinding te tree.
Die SAOU volstaan in hul argument dat elke rolspeler in die funksionering van ‘n skool hul pligte in volle samewerking teenoor mekaar moet verrig. Die eensydige en lukraak bepaling en afdwinging van ‘n skool se kapasiteit (arbitrêr) sal dus nie geduld word nie.
Die toelating van leerders en die formulering van 'n skool se taalbeleid bly 'n beheerliggaam aangeleentheid.
Indien jy twyfel of vrae het oor die onderwerp, moet asseblief nie huiwer om jou provinsiale SAOU-kantoor of die SAOU Regsafdeling te kontak nie.
2026/10/08
ADMISSION OF LEARNERS IN SCHOOLS REMAINS A MATTER FOR THE GOVERNING BODY
The Amended South African Schools Act (Schools Act) came into effect in September 2025. Since then, the SAOU, along with other education experts and representatives from the Department of Education, has served on task teams to draft national regulations. The purpose of these regulations is to govern the implementation of the amended Schools Act.
Some of these regulations pertain to school admission policies; they have been published in the Government Gazette for public comment on a staggered basis as the Department of Basic Education works towards their full implementation.
What is the SAOU's stance on a school's admission policy?
Maintaining a collaborative relationship between governing bodies and the state regarding school admission and language policies is of great importance to the SAOU.
Pending the finalization of the regulations, the SAOU maintains its advice that:
- The Department may only place learners at a school if section 5 and 5A of the South African Schools Act is applied. This means that the admissions policy of the school will still apply;
- The medium (language) of instruction may only be amended if the regulated process is followed, where circumstances justify it and following prior consultation between the Provincial Department of Education and the governing body, as stipulated in sections 6 of the Schools Act.
What course of action should a school take if pressure is exerted by a provincial education department to admit learners?
The SAOU notes that various provincial education departments are reluctant to negotiate with governing bodies regarding learner admissions and instead attempt to exert pressure on school principals.
The SAOU reminds members of the interim interdict obtained against the North West Department of Education after the latter placed approximately 80 learners at Swartruggens Combined School without any prior consultation, as prescribed by the amended Schools Act.
The SAOU encourage school principals to follow the following procedure when they are compelled to admit learners to their schools:
- All inquiries and directives imposing a unilateral increase in school capacity must be referred to the governing body for appropriate consideration;
- Contact the relevant SAOU provincial secretary as soon as possible if unreasonable and/or unlawful pressure is exerted on the principal. This will enable the SAOU to provide timely and appropriate advice; and
- Contact the relevant chairperson of the governing body and the applicable governing body organization without delay.
The SAOU maintains their position that every stakeholder involved in the functioning of a school must perform their duties in full cooperation with one another. The unilateral determination and enforcement of a school’s capacity—in an arbitrary manner—will therefore not be tolerated.
The admission of learners and the formulation of a school’s language policy remain a governing body matter.
If you have doubts or questions regarding the matter, please do not hesitate to contact your provincial SAOU office or the SAOU Legal Department.
