Gauteng's Chiloane rejects DBE's bilateral agreement with Solidariteit on BELA Bill
Chiloane said that the agreement signed by the minister and partners gives the school governing bodies too much power, as the heads of department will need to consult the SGB on policies pertaining to language and admissions.
Gauteng MEC for Education Matome Chiloane. Picture: X/@EducationGP1
JOHANNESBURG - Gauteng Education MEC Matome Chiloane said that he rejected the recent agreement with regards to the BELA Act by the minister of basic education and her partners.
The agreement between the minister and trade union Solidariteit through the National Economic Development and Labour Council (NEDLAC) proposes that the contentious clauses 4 and 5 not be implemented.
Centered around these are the issues of language and admission policies at public schools.
After signing the bill into law, President Cyril Ramaphosa excluded the two clauses for three months, allowing for further consultation.
Chiloane said that the agreement signed by the minister and partners gives the school governing bodies too much power, as the heads of department will need to consult the SGB on policies pertaining to language and admissions.
GBE’s spokesperson Steve Mabona said: "MEC Chiloane is deeply concerned that this agreement effectively "ring-fences" certain public schools for the exclusive use of specific societal groups. The agreement also suggests that heads of departments (HODs) must seek permission from, or consult, school governing bodies (SGBs) to change a school’s language policy or to administer learner admissions."