Question NW1778 to the Minister of Basic Education
31 October 2016 - NW1778
Davis, Mr GR to ask the Minister of Basic Education
(1)With reference to her reply to oral question 117 on 26 August 2016, (a) when will she introduce Bills to amend the (i) SA Schools Act, Act 84 of 1996, as amended and (ii) Employment of Educators Act, Act 76 of 1998, as amended and (b) why has there been a delay in amending the specified legislations; (2) where can the draft Bill referred to in the specified reply be accessed?
Reply:
(1)(a)(i)(ii) Before the publication thereof for public comment, I deemed it necessary to present the Bill to some stakeholders, which included School Governing Body Associations and Education Sector Unions. Some of these stakeholders commented on the Bill during the presentations, and some subsequently provided the Department with written comments on the Bill. After all the options had been weighed up, it was decided that the comments submitted by these stakeholders should be considered and, where there was merit, incorporated into the draft Bill before the Bill is published for public comment.
The Bill must further be subjected to the Socio-Economic Impact Assessment System (SEIAS). This is a new requirement that was introduced by the Presidency this year for all new legislation and policy as well as amendments to existing legislation and policy.
(b) Some of the recommendations in the Ministerial Task team report that require legislative changes are still being considered and is subjected to a sector intensive internal review such as consultation with key stakeholders in the sector.
(2) The Bill is still an internal document.