College of Education
Unisa colloquium examines BELA
Following President Cyril Ramaphosa’s signing of the Basic Education Laws Amendment Act (BELA) into law on 22 September 2024, Unisa hosted a colloquium on 13 February 2025 at the ZK Matthews Hall, Muckleneuk Campus, where academic and political experts gathered to explore the implications, opportunities and challenges of the act.
From right: Tholi Ngwenya, Youth Forum; Professor MaseTshaba Mantepu, Acting Executive Dean of the College of Economic and Management Sciences; Dr Gwen Ramokgopa, Treasurer-General, African National Congress; Greg Masondo, NAPTOSA chief negotiator; and Prof Kedibone Phago, Director of the School for Government Studies at North-West University
BELA is a South African law that aims to improve the education system. It amends the South African Schools Act and the Employment of Educators Act. It aims to address systemic issues within the basic education sector, enhance the quality of education, enforce school governance and ensure equal access to educational resources.
Speaking on behalf of Prof Mpine Makoe, Executive Dean of the College of Education, Prof MaseTshaba Mantepu, Acting Executive Dean of the College of Economic and Management Sciences, welcomed the guests and set the tone of the discussion.
In her virtual address, Dr Reginah Mhaule, Deputy Minister of Basic Education, said unlike the Constitution that allowed education to start from Grade One and in which Grade R was excluded, BELA introduces several groundbreaking changes that address administrative challenges, governance structures and access to education which now brings forth compulsory Grade R, the regulation of learner attendance and retention, a revised code of conduct for learners, provision for home schooling, the rationalisation of schools, the abolition of popular punishment and initiations, language and admission policy reforms, criminalisation of school disruptions, and strengthening of school governance and accountability.
Dr Reginah Mhaule, Deputy Minister of Basic Education
Furthermore, Mhaule said the government has assured stakeholders that the implementation process of BELA will involve continued consultation with unions, school governing bodies, educators and parents. Mhaule reaffirmed that while challenges are expected, the goal is to transform the education system into one that is fair, inclusive and aligned with South Africa’s democratic values. She continued: "BELA speaks to improve governance within schools. It mandates good governing bodies to actively consult with parents on critical matters such as the code of conduct and financial decisions. This requirement fosters transparency and accountability, ensuring that the voices of parents and guardians are integral to school management."
While identifying potential barriers in implementing BELA and strategies to overcome them, National Professional Teachers’ Organisation of South Africa (NAPTOSA) chief negotiator, Greg Masondo, said that draft guidelines are crucial for the correct interpretation and implementation of BELA, and that lack of clarity in respect of certain provisions in the act may disrupt or undermine the carefully balanced set of powers and functions conferred by law on the national government, provincial government and public schools.
Tholi Ngwenya from the Youth Forum shared her perspective on BELA, highlighting that the bill is designed to reform certain aspects of how schools’ function, saying that the legislation will have a significant impact on parents, children and broader educational systems. Ngwenya said this act on its own is a significant step in advancing transformation, improving inclusivity and addressing long-standing inequalities in the South African educational system.
The colloquium provided clarity on various aspects of the bill and raised important questions that require further engagement with educators, principals and parents.
* By Rememberance Manganyi and Seyabonga Thipe, Intern Journalists, Department of Institutional Advancement
** Photography by Shooheima Champion, Multimedia Centre
Publish date: 2025/02/18
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