Education expert Professor Mary Metcalfe says she believes once the Basic Education Laws Amendment (Bela) Bill is signed into law, it will bring clarity as well as defend the right of all learners to be taught in the language of their choice.
Metcalfe says the Bill does not change any current legal provision, it instead confirms existing policy and practice.
The Presidency confirmed, on Wednesday, that President Cyril Ramaphosa will sign the Bill into law on Friday.
This despite the Democratic Alliance (DA)s objections to the Bill, warning that it will withdraw from the government of national unity (GNU) if the Bill is signed into law.
Below is the full interview with DA national spokesperson Willie Aucamp:Metcalfe says the Bill is a step in the right direction. Once this Act is signed, any school governing body that has asked to change its language policy knows what are the steps that must be taken by the department. It can hold the department to account if those steps arent followed and all education departments also understand those steps.
