The new education bill gives South Africa control over language schools for white minority communities, posing a threat to the national unity government.
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| Schools in South Africa are facing a landmark bill. (Source: Bridge International Academies) |
This bill would allow the government to decide on language policies and school admissions. Currently, school administrators, primarily parents and community leaders, are the ones making these decisions.
According to experts, this bill poses a threat to schools that teach in only one language, especially those that use Afrikaans – the language of the white Afrikaner minority.
South Africa currently has 12 official languages. While most schools use English as the language of instruction, some schools use Afrikaans, a language developed in the 17th century by Dutch and European immigrants.
Of the 23,719 public schools, at least 2,484 use Afrikaans.
John Steenhuisen, leader of the Democratic Alliance party, is expected to meet with President Cyril Ramaphosa before the bill is passed on September 13.
In addition, the non-governmental organization Afriforum announced that it would take legal action to oppose the bill as soon as Mr. Ramaphosa signs it into law.
In June 2024, the Democratic Alliance party joined a unity government led by the African National Congress (ANC), after the ANC lost its majority control of the National Assembly .
The ANC believes this bill will help prevent Black students from being rejected by schools that teach only in Afrikaans.
However, Steenhuisen stated that during negotiations to form a national unity government, the Democratic Alliance party pointed out that this education bill threatened students' right to learn in their mother tongue.
"If the President continues to ignore these dissenting voices, he is also threatening the future and destroying the credibility of the national unity government," Steenhuisen emphasized.
The bill is expected to be enacted or sent back to Parliament for amendment if President Ramaphosa deems it does not meet the standards of the Constitution.
Source: https://baoquocte.vn/du-luat-giao-duc-moi-cu-a-nam-phi-gay-tranh-cai-286026.html
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