BELA action needed now: Groups convene over law aiming to anglicise schools
9 October 2024
Action plans regarding the Basic Education Act (BELA) will be drawn up and announced tomorrow (10 October) in the presence of almost 50 organisations, at least 71 schools and other groups with an interest in Afrikaans education.
This action summit is presented by Solidarity, AfriForum and the Solidarity Support Centre for Schools (“Skoleondersteuningsentrum” – SOS) and is specifically aimed at school governing bodies, school management and Afrikaans institutions.
This event takes place within the three-month period stipulated by President Cyril Ramaphosa to hold further discussions on sections 4 and 5 of the BELA Act before it is implemented.
These sections will remove final decision-making on school policy regarding language and admissions from governing bodies and transfer it to government officials. The period of three months for discussions since the BELA Bill was signed into law by President Ramaphosa on 13 September will expire at the end of the year. So far no new agreement has been reached.