South Africa's new education bill sparks controversy

New education bill gives South Africa control over white minority language schools, posing a threat to national unity government.

Schools in South Africa are facing a landmark bill. (Source: Bridge International Academies)

The bill allows the government to decide language and admissions policies in schools. Currently, school authorities, mainly parents and community leaders, make these decisions.

According to experts, the bill is 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 use Afrikaans, a language developed in the 17th century by Dutch and other 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 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 signed it into law.

In June 2024, the Democratic Alliance party joined the unity government led by the African National Congress (ANC), after the ANC lost control of the majority of seats in the National Assembly .

The ANC believes the bill will help prevent black students being turned away from Afrikaans-only schools.

However, Mr. Steenhuisen said that during the negotiations to form a national unity government, the Democratic Alliance party made it clear that this education bill threatened students' right to study in their mother tongue.

“If the President continues to ignore these voices of opposition, he is threatening the future and destroying the credibility of the national unity government,” Mr. Steenhuisen stressed.

It is expected that the bill could be enacted or sent back to Parliament for amendment if President Ramaphosa believes it does not meet constitutional standards.

Source: https://baoquocte.vn/du-luat-giao-duc-moi-cu-a-nam-phi-gay-tranh-cai-286026.html