The most controversial provisions are those related to increased government oversight of language and admissions policies.
This is a sensitive topic related to racial integration.
The previous ANC government argued that language and other entry criteria were “used to discourage most learners from progressing to school”.
Apartheid (the legally enforced system of racial discrimination) ended 30 years ago, but the racial divisions it created still persist in some areas of education.
Afrikaans is not specifically mentioned in the bill, but the ANC says some children are being excluded from schools where the white minority language is used as the language of instruction.
The DA defended the right of school boards to determine language policy, citing the Constitution and the importance and protection of learning in one's mother tongue.
The strongest opposition came from the Afrikaans-speaking community.
Civil rights group AfriForum has described the bill as an attack on Afrikaans education and said it would oppose it “because it poses a threat to the continued existence of Afrikaans schools and quality education”.
Freedom Front Plus, one of 10 parties in the coalition government and seen as representing Afrikaner interests, opposes Vela, calling it “a misguided idea” that would “create unnecessary uncertainty and conflict over clearly established rights and responsibilities related to basic education”.
Some are also concerned about homeschooling reform. The current poor state of government schools has left many unregulated schools popular with the middle class.
A loophole in the current law allows these schools to continue to operate, with students registered as “homerunners” and teachers providing “lessons.” But Bellah’s Bill seeks to close the loophole and ensure that they are regulated like state schools.
