NN 32/2024
VREEDSAME OPTOG TEEN BELA
Die Suid-Afrikaanse Onderwysersunie (SAOU) het reeds in 2017 begin om aanbevelings te formuleer teen die wysiging van die Suid-Afrikaanse Skole Wet en etlike regsopinies is ingewin om die standpunt van die SAOU te stel.
Die BELA-wetgewing is op 13 September 2024 deur die Staatspresident afgeteken, maar twee klousules naamlik Klousule 4 (toelatingsbeleid ) en Klousule 5 (taalbeleid) is vir verdere beraadslaging geteiken op politieke vlak. Daar is dus uitstel tot 13 Desember 2024 vir die betrokke klousules gegee. Die SAOU het reeds uitgereik na die rolspelers wat toegang het tot die proses en dienooreenkomstig insette gelewer.
Waar staan ons na die BELA-wet onderteken is?
Die SAOU, in samewerking met ander vennote, is dit eens dat die eerste plek sal wees, om die oorspronklike artikels rakende toelating en taal te behou word soos dit in die Suid-Afrikaanse Skolewet (SASW) vervat is.
Wat is die standpunt van die SAOU?
In Nasionale Nuusbrief 19/2024 (klik hier) het die SAOU duidelik aangedui wat die onderliggende beginsels van die SAOU rakende die BELA-wetgewing is naamlik:
- Gelyke vennootskap tussen skoolbeheerliggame en die onderwys-owerhede;
- Samewerkende beheer en bestuur van skole;
- Onderlinge samewerking;
- Openbare skole as onafhanklike regspersone; en
- Openbare skole as demokratiese verlengstukke van die onderskeie gemeenskappe ten einde diverse en uiteenlopende benaderings te verteenwoordig.
Die SAOU het van die begin af ontevredenheid oor Klousule 4 (toelatingsbeleid) en Klousule 5 (taalbeleid) uitgespreek en ook omvattende positiewe veranderings aan hierdie klousules voorgestel vir oorweging.
Sal die SAOU deelneem aan die vreedsame optog van 5 November 2024?
‘n Protes word gedefinieer as ‘n plegtige verklaring of uitdrukking van jou opinie. Die SAOU sal dus op 5 November 2024 sy grondwetlike reg uitoefen om aan ‘n vreedsame optog deel te neem.
Die besluit tot deelname aan die vreedsame optog, is op Vrydag 18 Oktober 2024 is eenparig deur die SAOU se Nasionale Dagbestuur (NDB) geneem.
Die optog het ten doel om ‘n memorandum aan verteenwoordigers van die Regering van Nasionale Eenheid te oorhandig, wat ons standpunt stel. Die SAOU se deelname is ter ondersteuning van die breë onderwysgemeenskap met die volgende vertrekpunte:
- Kwaliteitonderrig vir elke leerder in Suid-Afrika. Dit sluit ook elke graad R leerder in na die ondertekening van die BELA deur President Ramaphosa;
- Die beskerming van gemeenskappe in skole, ten opsigte van hulle reg tot keuse van die taal van onderrig en leer, sowel as toelating tot ‘n spesifieke skool; en
- Die beskerming van die regte van onderwysers.
Wie sal aan die optog van 5 November 2024 namens die SAOU deelneem?
Die Nasionale Dagbestuur (NDB) van die SAOU het besluit dat die SAOU se Nasionale Uitvoerende Raad (NUR) namens SAOU-lede die optog sal mee maak.
Die besluit is geneem om onderrig en leer in skole te beskerm.
Ek sal graag my steun aan die optog wil verleen, mag ek ook deelneem?
Alle lede van die SAOU wat hulle stem wil laat hoor, is welkom om aan die optog deel te neem. Die SAOU sal teenwoordig wees en lede kan by die SAOU afvaardiging aansluit.
Watter prosedures vir verlof moet ek volg?
Dit is die doelwit van die SAOU om lede wat sterk voel dat hulle persoonlik by die optog wil aansluit, te beskerm, sodat hulle binne die arbeidswetgewing optree en nie aan dissiplinêre aksie blootgestel word nie.
Die volgende reëlings moet deur u getref word:
- U moet aansoek doen by u werkgewer vir opgehoopte verlof of vir jaarlikse verlof.
- U mag slegs deelneem indien u toestemming van u werkgewer ontvang het.
- Indien geen toestemming verleen word nie, sal u moontlike dissiplinêre stappe in die gesig staar.
- Indien verlof toegestaan word sal dit onbetaalde verlof wees.
- Indien u enige verdere navrae het, rig dit aan u provinsiale kantoor vir uitklaring.
Ten slotte
Die SAOU streef daarna om die verandering in onderwys te wees. Die deelname aan die vreedsame optog is daarop gemik om SAOU-lede en skoolgemeenskappe se stem te laat hoor om te verseker dat die beste moontlike onderwysgeleenthede geskep word.
PEACEFUL MARCH AGAINST BELA
As early as 2017 the SAOU started to express recommendations against the Amendment of the South African Schools Act and several legal opinions were sought to formulate the point of view of the SAOU.
The BELA legislation was signed off by the State President on 13 September 2024, but two sections namely Clause 4 (admission policy) and Clause 5 (language policy) were targeted for further deliberation at the political level. An extension was therefore given until 13 December 2024, for the relevant sections to be reconsidered. The SAOU has already reached out to the role players who have access to the process and provided input accordingly.
Where do we stand after the BELA Act is signed?
The SAOU, in collaboration with other partners, agrees that the first prize will be the retention of the original articles regarding admission and language, as contained in the current South African Schools Act (SASA).
What is the position of the SAOU?
In National Newsletter 19/2024 (click here), the SAOU clearly indicated what the underlying principles of the SAOU, regarding the BELA legislation, are:
- Equal partnership between school governing bodies and the education authorities;
- Collaborative governance and management of schools;
- Mutual cooperation;
- Public schools as independent legal entities; and
- Public schools as democratic extensions of the respective communities in order to represent diversity and diverse approaches.
The SAOU expressed dissatisfaction with Clause 4 (admission policy) and Clause 5 (language policy) from the outset and also proposed comprehensive positive changes to these clauses for consideration.
Will the SAOU participate in the peaceful march on 5 November 2024?
A protest is defined as a solemn declaration or expression of one’s opinion. The SAOU will therefore exercise its constitutional right to participate in a peaceful march on 5 November 2024.
The decision to participate in the peaceful march was taken by the SAOU's National Standing Committee (NSC) on Friday 18 October 2024.
The intention of the march is to hand over a memorandum to representatives of the Government of National Unity, that support our stance. The SAOU's participation is in support of the wider education community. The SAOU’s point of departure is as follows:
- Quality education for every learner in South Africa. This also includes every Grade R learner after the signing of the BELA by President Ramaphosa;
- The protection of the rights of school communities, regarding their right to choose the language of teaching and learning, as well as admission to a specific school;
- The protection of the rights of teachers.
Who will participate in the march on 5 November 2024 on behalf of the SAOU?
The SAOU’s National Standing Committee (NSC) resolved that the National Executive Council (NEC) will support the march on behalf of SAOU members.
The decision was taken to protect teaching and learning in schools.
I would like to lend my support to the, march may I also participate?
All members of the SAOU who wish to make their voices heard are welcome to participate in the march. The SAOU will be present and members can join the SAOU delegation.
What procedures for leave should I follow?
It is the aim of the SAOU to, protect members who strongly feel that they wish to personally join the march, so that they act within the labour legislation and are not exposed to disciplinary action.
The following arrangements must be made by you:
- You must apply to your employer for accumulated leave or, for annual leave.
- You may only participate if you have received permission from your employer.
- If no permission is granted, you will face possible disciplinary action.
- If leave is granted it will be unpaid leave.
- If you have any queries, please direct them to your provincial office for clarification.
In conclusion
The SAOU strives to be the change in education. The participation in the peaceful march is aimed at making the voices of SAOU members, and school communities heard, to ensure that the best possible educational opportunities are created.
Salarisonderhandelinge Terugvoer – Lede Mandatering | Salary Negotiations Response – Member Mandates
CONTACT US
QUICK LINKS
BUSINESS HOURS
- Mon - Fri
- -
- Sat - Sun
- Closed