My name is Marie Sukers. I am a Member of Parliament and a member of Parliament’s Portfolio Committee on Basic Education. As a committee member, I am currently overseeing the legislative process of the Basic Education Laws Amendment Bill (BELA Bill), which was introduced to Parliament in December 2022 and is now at the final stages of the legislative process.

I am concerned that the public hearing process, which is now underway in the 9 provinces, does not give full effect to the  constitutional requirement for public participation.

The hearings are currently inaccessible to the broader public, and some members of the Portfolio Committee are resisting any suggestions of making these hearings accessible virtually, in addition to the physical hearings.

A decision on virtual hearings is going to made at our first meeting after the Easter long weekend. If I cannot show the Portfolio Committee, before then, that the South African public, by signing this petition, insists that their democratic right to public participation be fulfilled, the process will conclude without the broader South African public knowing the full effects of the BELA Bill.

The BELA Bill, if passed, will affect everyone from learners, teachers and school governing bodies to parents.

Some of the key amendments that the BELA Bill aims to make include:

• Making grade R the new compulsory school starting age, as opposed to grade 1, as is currently the case.
• Forcing homeschooled learners to be registered for this type of schooling. Allowing the closure of small rural schools without reasons having to be given.
• Criminalising parents who do not ensure their child or children are in school, with fines or jail time up to 12 months rather than providing social support.
• Holding school governing bodies more accountable for disclosures of financial interests – including those related to their spouses and family members.
• Prohibiting educators from conducting business with the state or being a director of public or private companies conducting business with the state.
• Making further amendments to the law on corporal punishment and initiation/hazing practices.
• Allowing schools to sell alcohol outside of school hours.
• Giving government department heads power over language policies a school must adopt.

The BELA Bill will shape the education landscape for the next 10 to 15 years. It is therefore crucial that all voices are heard. South Africa should be strengthening its democracy by embracing the 4th industrial and digital revolutions. The COVID-19 pandemic has shown the potential for effective online communication, and demonstrated the adaptability of South Africans in embracing virtual platforms.

Parliament is currently struggling with a limited budget, which affects the quality and quantity of public hearings. Implementing virtual hearings would be a cost-effective and practical solution that allows for more extensive public participation. The time to act is now, as we must ensure an inclusive and fair legislative process that accommodates the voices of all South Africans.

Despite the above, many Portfolio Committee members are currently hostile to the idea of virtual hearings, so it is vital to gather as much support as possible before the critical meeting after the Easter long weekend to decide on how to continue the public hearings.