GAUTENG Department of Education (GDE) has stated concerns about misleading reports that Gauteng Education MEC, Panyaza Lesufi, wants powers to regulate school admissions and enforce language policies in all Gauteng public schools.
“These media reports are incorrect, misleading and malicious. Following the hosting of a successful provincial education summit, the chairperson of the Gauteng Education Portfolio Committee, Joe Mpisi, and MEC Lesufi, called the media to brief them on the outcome and recommendations of the summit,” read a statement released by the GDE.
The chairperson reported that during the summit, delegates representing a wide range of education stakeholders in the province were divided into five commissions. One of these commissions dealt with the issue of the South African Schools Act and governing body associations.
Participants in this commission expressed concerns about the powers given to school governing bodies (SGBs) around admissions, language policy, recruitment and selection of educators, the school management team (SMT), religious policy and the learners’ code of conduct. The commission therefore recommended that the MEC must be given powers by law, to regulate language and admission policies.
In a follow-up media briefing, the chairperson reported back on inputs made by the commission on the review of the South African Schools Act and emphasised that communities would be consulted all the way.
The MEC strongly upholds the democratic values and principles of the constitution, which prescribes that everyone has the right to basic education and that everyone has the right to receive education in the official language or languages of their choice in public education institutions, where that education is reasonably practicable.
