what is bela bill

The BELA Bill, or Basic Education Laws Amendment Bill, is a proposed amendment to the South African Schools Act of 1996 and the Employment of Educators Act of 1998. The bill aims to align these laws with developments in the education landscape. The bill has caused controversy and raised concerns among various groups, including homeschooling parents. Some of the proposed amendments include making Grade R the new compulsory school-starting age and centralizing power into the hands of the Minister, taking away the constitutional responsibility of provincial governments. Once passed, the BELA Bill will provide provincial heads of education departments the power to make a final decision on a schools language and admissions policy, reducing the role of school governing bodies. The bill has undergone public hearings in all provinces to give people a chance to talk about the matter. The controversy surrounding the bill is still ongoing, and the department is conducting public hearings to address concerns.