Bela Bill: Communities must be able to decide for themselves, demands Cape Forum

The civil rights organisation Cape Forum has today announced that, following the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Basic Education’s adoption of the Basic Education Laws Amendment Bill (also known as the Bela Bill), it will now join forces with other organisations considering further action against the government. The organisation demands, among other things, that communities themselves should be able to decide on the future of their schools. With this, Cape Forum adds its voice to a group of organisations that strongly condemn this bill.

Cape Forum recognises the importance of tackling the long-standing challenges in the education sector and maintains that improving the education system is a priority. Although Cape Forum is delighted that the ANC wants to start doing something about the crisis in education after 30 years, it is convinced that the Bela Bill does not offer a practical or realistic solution to this complex problem.

In its current form, the Bela Bill falls short, the organisation believes. Cape Forum emphasises that it has already been proven across language and cultural boundaries that a community-focused approach is essential for meaningful change. It therefore argues that the following elements are of critical importance in this case:

1. Community autonomy: The Bela Bill does not sufficiently empower communities in the Western Cape to take control of their education systems. Without a community’s support, there will also be no community involvement. This is the first and foremost requirement in running successful schools.
2. Resource distribution: Despite the past 30 years of considerable neglect of education in the Western Cape, and in South Africa as a whole, the Bela Bill does not provide clear mechanisms for equitable resource distribution. It is essential that resources are distributed fairly in order to effectively tackle historical inequalities.
3. Local initiatives: The Bela Bill does not emphasise the importance of local initiatives and self-help efforts to improve education. Cape Forum believes in promoting community-based projects that will address education challenges directly at grassroots level.
4. Human rights and democracy: Real education reform should bring about a deepening of democracy by devolving decision-making power to the lowest possible level. The Bela Bill should be amended to give communities more say in shaping the future of education.

“The government is currently trying to repackage a dysfunctional system by taking power away from local communities. Centralisation has so far produced no success stories under the current government. It would be better to stop the process now and identify the problems, than to try to treat the symptoms with radical so-called solutions,” says Bernard Pieters from Cape Forum.

Get involved with Cape Forum today and help make a difference. Send an email to info@kaapseforum.co.za or join www.kaapseforum.co.za.