South Africa’s Basic Education Committee has passed the Basic Education Laws Amendment Bill, which continues the sector’s transformation programme.

According to committee chairperson Bongiwe Mbinqo-Gigaba, this brings the bill, which took more than 20 years to draft, in line with modern basic education requirements.

Among the measures taken are the introduction of compulsory primary R grade (the so-called reception year for six-year-olds) and sanctions for parents who fail to ensure their children attend school.

It is also confirmed that corporal punishment will no longer be allowed in schools and sanctions are set for those who are found guilty of such an offence.

According to Mbinqo-Gigaba, the committee held extensive public consultations on the bill across the country, heard oral submissions from stakeholders in Parliament and considered thousands of written submissions.

The bill and the committee’s report will now be sent to the National Assembly (parliament) for consideration, as reported by Prensa Latina, a partner of TV BRICS.

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