Social & Moral Issues Education

PROBLEMS WITH PROPOSED EDUCATION LAWS AMENDMENT BILL 15 November 2004 Write in to protest education law changes - summary of problems Please find below an article explaining some of the ways in which the proposed new education bill will take away more of your powers as a parent to control what happens in your child's school. Please write in urgently to the education department before Friday this week (or ask for an extension to  ). The Bible puts the responsibilty for a child's education with parents, and the state should thus be recognising and strengthening these powers - not taking them away. For the past 7 years, the Education department has been trying to take more and more power away from parents. Last year our fight was over the issue of parents rights to control religious policy in schools. Our campaign last year had a substantial impact on education policy. This year the fight is is about your right through school governing bodies to influence discipline, finances and teacher appointments. If you as a parent do not speak up, you will end up with less and less control over their children's lives. Without positive parental influence in society and especially schools, your children may be negatively influenced by other ideologies and toxic youth culture. Further, the academic quality of your child's education may be erroded. We do not want to allow this to happen here, and thus must fight to keep power in the hands of parents to control how their children are educated. Therefore, we must speak up and support the Federation of South African Schools (FEDSAS) in their fight for parents rights. Please find below, the comments of Paul Colditz on the proposed new law. Paul is a lawyer who has been fighting for many years to defend your and other parents rights on behalf of FEDSAS. Please also write to your local newspaper and phone in to your local radio talk show to voice your views on this law. Philip Rosenthal -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY OF PROBLEMS WITH PROPOSED EDUCATION LAWS AMENDMENT BILL (ELA), 2004 By Paul Colditz, Federation of South African Schools 1.  The first issue the ELA deals with, is disciplinary procedures. It now places an obligation on a Head of Department (HOD) to make his/her decision regarding a recommendation for expulsion by a school governing body (SGB) within 14 days. This can be supported, but the ELA will make it more difficult for a SGB to suspend a learner pending a decision by the HOD on expulsion. In cases of serious misconduct (rape, assault, murder, etc), the hands of a SGB to deal with discipline should be strengthened, not tied. 2.  The second issue deals with funding and financial management. Some of the amendments are technical, but once again, in the absence of adequate funding by the State, the proposals will make it more difficult for SGBs to collect schools fees to supplement state funding. 3.  The third issue deals with asset management. The ELA proposes that a HOD may inspect movable assets of schools and compile an inventory of such assets. These assets are acquired without financial support from the state and the proposal will increase state interference. 4.  The last issue is the most controversial. It deals with the power of SGBs to make recommendations for the appointment of educators. The present position is that, if there is only one suitable educator amongst applicants for a vacant post, the SGB may recommend only one person for appointment. The ELA proposes that a SGB should recommend at least five persons in order of preference, but the HOD may then appoint any of the five candidates without having regard to the SGB's order of preference. This would substantially reduce the choice of parents regarding the person or persons who should teach their children.   For more information on FEDSAS and legal issues around schools, go to www.fedsas.org.za. Comments must be submitted on or before 19 November 2004 to The Director-General, Private Bag X895, PRETORIA, 0001, for attention: Ms M Locke, Fax No. (012) 312 5902, Tel No (012) 312 5929 or e-mail . If you need more time, request an extension and they are likely to grant it. Philip Rosenthal   CHRISTIAN VIEW is a news and information service on issues of concern to Christians in South Africa. To receive Christianview, email receive@christianview.org To view past messages, visit www.archive.christianview.org Please forward and photocopy Christian View to give to friends and put on church or society notice boards. For more information, email the editor or phone 082 676 8966. Please  with any information, details of planned activities and organisations' statements on issues. _______________________________________________ Please read our disclaimer   Back to Social Issues