South Africa’s President Cyril Ramaphosa is working to ease tensions within his governing coalition, opting to delay the contentious implementation of a new education law.
A dispute over language policy has posed a challenge to the stability of the diverse 10-party coalition formed after the African National Congress (ANC) experienced its first loss of majority in May.
At a public signing ceremony, President Ramaphosa declared a three-month consultation period before proceeding with the law.
John Steenhuisen, leader of the coalition’s second-largest party, the Democratic Alliance (DA), previously warned of potential ramifications if the signing went ahead without adjustments.
Before the elections, both the ANC and the DA had been engaged in heated debates over the Basic Education Laws Amendment (Bela) bill.
President Ramaphosa expressed a desire for the coalition parties to work towards accommodating differing viewpoints.
Key Provisions of the Bela Law
The proposed legislation, previously passed by the ANC-majority parliament, introduces significant reforms to existing education laws, leading to widespread controversy.
Notable changes include:
- Government regulation of school admissions and language of instruction
- Regulation of home schooling
- Potential jail time for parents failing to ensure their child’s attendance at school
- Compulsory school starting level raised to Grade R for four and five-year-olds
- Increased penalties for administering corporal punishment, including fines and possible jail time
The ANC argues that these changes are essential for transforming the education system and addressing ongoing inequalities.
Educational experts emphasize the urgent need for improvement in South Africa’s education system, which was ranked last out of 57 countries in a recent study assessing reading literacy.
Reasons for Opposition
The most contentious aspect of the Bela law involves increased government oversight on language and admission policies, a sensitive issue surrounding racial integration in education.
The previous ANC government contended that language criteria were hindering access to schools for many learners.
Despite the end of apartheid more than three decades ago, disparities in school resources persist, particularly between historically white and black schools.
While Afrikaans is not specifically mentioned, the ANC maintains that some children are being excluded from schools where Afrikaans is the medium of instruction.
The DA supports the rights of school governing bodies to establish their language policies, emphasizing the constitutional importance of mother-tongue instruction.
Opposition has been particularly strong from the Afrikaans-speaking community, with civil rights groups asserting that the Bela bill threatens the future of Afrikaans education.
The Freedom Front Plus, another coalition party representing Afrikaner interests, denounces the bill as poorly conceived, arguing it generates unnecessary conflict over established educational rights.
Concerns are also raised about the regulation of home schooling, as many unregulated institutions are popular among families dissatisfied with the public school system.
Has the Coalition Government Found a Resolution?
In the lead-up to the bill’s signing, DA leader Steenhuisen had adopted a tough stance, highlighting the bill’s potential violations of the coalition agreement.
However, his position softened as he acknowledged that policy disagreements do not necessarily threaten the coalition’s existence.
Ramaphosa responded to the DA’s concerns by proposing further discussions, emphasizing the need for agreement before implementing the controversial law.
The next three months will be crucial for the coalition’s survival, as the president warned that the law would take effect without compromise.
