JAIL is waiting for parents who fail to start their children to grade R.
The same thing will happen to teachers who use corporal punishment at schools.
This is after the National Assembly (NA) approved the Basic Education Laws Amendment (BELA) Bill on Thursday, 26 October.
Parliament spokesman Moloto Mothapo said before tabling its report, the Portfolio Committee on Basic Education held extensive public hearings in all the nine provinces, received written submissions, and held public hearings at parliament for interested parties and organisations to make further oral submissions.
“Among the amendments in the BELA Bill that sparked much public interest and input, is a provision that grade R will now be the new compulsory school-starting age and parents who fail to enroll their children for grade R will be formally penalised,” he said.
According to the new law, parents who fail to comply will pay fine or go to jail for up to 12 months.
Currently, grade 1 is the compulsory school-starting age.
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There will be no people who may bring liquor onto the school premises, or have liquor in his or her possession, consume or sell liquor on public school premises, or during any public-school activity unless permission has been sought from the head of department.
Mothapo said this will only be allowed under strict conditions.
“In terms of language policy, the bill provides that a school governing body will now be required to submit the language policy of a public school and any amendment thereof to the head of department for approval,” he said.
He pointed out that the language policy must also take into consideration the language needs of the broader community.
Mothapo said: “The bill further provides that the South African Sign Language has the status of an official language for purposes of learning at a public school.”
