Education Laws Amendment Bill

Cheryllyn Dudley MP (ACDP)

Thursday, 19 September 2002

In Parliament today Cheryllyn Dudley MP for the African Christian Democratic Party gave the following speech during a debate on the Education Laws Amendment Bill:

Madam Speaker/Chairman

Everyone in this house would probably agree that when democracy finally dawned in this country, public education was probably in more need of thorough transformation than any other sector. There was and is an urgent need for norms and standards that will ensure equity of provision and ensure that past control and manipulation of social and political behaviour will not be repeated. In this respect the Education Laws amendment Bill is necessary, however there has been mounting concern that the framework for educational transformation within this bill could easily, itself, become a template for political control. The centralist tendencies of the ANC are strongly evident in the ministry of Education and the efficacy of outcomes based methodology, that is central to the new curriculum has been widely questioned, just as its very specific reference to what and how children learn, raises questions around programmed conformity.

The ACDP proposed that clause 3 of this bill be amended to read:

The minister may by notice in the Government Gazette determine
(a) a national curriculum statement indicating the minimum academic standards and limited to broad terms such that it allows for sufficient freedom of conscience, belief, religion and interpretation; and
(b) assessment guidelines of leaner achievement so as to maintain a national standard, however the assessment instruments will be determined by the provinces and independent examining boards.
And that clause 9,26,27 &30 be amended in line with this.

Although the Minister insisted that what was contained in the ACDP proposal, was the intention of the department, the ANC, DP, UDM and IFP collectively voted against it and the one curriculum and process for the assessment of learner achievement contemplated in the bill will be applicable to both public and independent schools.

In an era when diversity is generally perceived to have value, one national curriculum and assessment tool, is seen by many, as the departments progress toward imposing of a single state controlled national examination system, which the Minister has promised.

At the same time clause 10 which addresses a very real concern and will help facilitate the placement of teachers, will also further undermine the powers of School Governing Body’s, and allow the minister to impose placements on communities without their approval.

This bill, which exercises more control over independent schools, and undermines school governing bodies, is a serious concern to communities but especially threatens faith-based, independent and home schools.

It is for these reasons and in the interests of freedom, democracy and diversity that the ACDP will vote against this bill.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

For further comment please call Cheryllyn Dudley MP at 082 8906520 or ACDP Media Liaison Liza Bloemetje at 082 4781037