What’s South Africa’s new school language law and why is it controversial? | Education News
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2024/9/18/whats-south-africas-new-school-language-law-and-why-is-it-controversial
Posted by Nemesysbr
What’s South Africa’s new school language law and why is it controversial? | Education News
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2024/9/18/whats-south-africas-new-school-language-law-and-why-is-it-controversial
Posted by Nemesysbr
1 comment
> It includes new provisions, such as a ban on corporal punishment for children, jail terms for parents who fail to send their children to school, compulsory grade levels for children starting school, and increased scrutiny for homeschooling.
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> However, Sections 4 and 5, which regulate languages of instruction in school, and school admission policies, are causing upheaval among Afrikaans-speaking minority groups.
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> The clauses allow schools to develop and choose their languages of instruction out of South Africa’s 11 official languages, as well as their admissions policy. However, it also gives the National Department of Basic Education the final authority, allowing it to override any decisions. Until now, school boards had the highest authority on languages and admissions.
This sounds great actually, and the only ones whining seems to be the same folks that are sour South Africa is no longer officially an apartheid state.