Some Gauteng residents have rejected proposed changes to homeschooling education in the country, claiming they infringe on parents’ rights to choose what is best for their children.
Parliament’s education portfolio committee on Sunday hosted public hearings in Brakpan on the draft Basic Education Laws Amendment Bill, also known as the Bela Bill.
The bill proposes sweeping changes to the South African Schools Act of 1996, which includes government regulation of homeschooling.
Chief Director of Basic Education, James Ndlebe said the department acknowledges there are many reasons parents do not want to send their children to a formal school and prefer to home-school them.
He said the bill allows for parents to register with the basic education department so they are aware the children are being homeschooled.
“The Bela bill you have does not prescribe what curriculum you need to teach…but it is saying please do indicate what curriculum you want to and finally that Bela bill says as the child progresses at home there should be an assessor that will determine whether the child is progressing or not.”
-EWN
In other news – DJ Maphorisa arrested for beating up his girlfriend, Thuli Phongolo
South African DJ, record producer, singer, and songwriter, DJ Maphorisa, was caught on the wrong side of the law on Sunday afternoon when he was arrested for allegedly assaulting his girlfriend Thuli Phongolo.
The incident of their assault was revealed in a statement deposed by Phongolo at the Sandton Police Station. The gender-based violence allegedly happened at the former Generations: The Legacy actress’s apartment in Sandton, Johannesburg. Learn More