Mr Speaker, the presentation today signals that the Portfolio Committee on Basic Education is concluding its task of responsibility for processing the Basic Education Laws Amendment Bill [B 36D-2010] (Reprint). In the main, the Bill seeks to clarify certain existing provisions in the education laws and provides statutory authority for practices currently in existence in the classroom.
The process specifically affected the following Acts by way of aligning them. They are the National Education Policy Act, Act 27 of 1996; the South African Schools Act, Act 84 of 1996; the Employment of Educators Act, Act 76 of 1998; the South African Council for Educators Act, Act 31 of 2000; and the General and Further Education and Training Quality Assurance Act, Act 58 of 2001.
We are satisfied that the department, as well as the portfolio and select committees, consulted widely in February 2010, and March and May 2011 respectively. Comments were received from a variety of affected stakeholders and the public as a whole. The comments were factored into the Bill on merit. We therefore thank all stakeholders, entities and individuals who participated in the processing of the Bill.
After the Bill was passed by the National Assembly, it went to the NCOP, the National Council of Provinces. The NCOP effected the following changes.
Clause 7 changes section 9 of the South African Schools Act, to provide that in a case where a learner has been expelled from school and the MEC upholds such expulsion, the MEC now has 14 days to impose the suitable sanction. This is to avoid unnecessary delays that will disadvantage the learner.
Clause 19 of the Bill seeks to amend the South African Council for Educators Act of 2000 and to empower the South African Council for Educators, Sace, to manage a system for the promotion of continued professional development of all educators and to provide the council with funding from money appropriated by Parliament.
The above changes that were seconded by the NCOP were accepted as such by the portfolio committee. Therefore, there is no need for this Bill to go for mediation.
I also want to recognise the spirit of support that prevailed during the processing of the Bill. We in the committee spoke with one voice, and that was encouraging. It showed that together we can do much more. We encourage the spirit of putting our learners first.
The passing of this Bill empowers the department to work harder in making sure that we attain quality education by 2014. As a committee we will continue with our oversight and support responsibility to the department.
The portfolio committee therefore requests the House to accept the report on the Basic Education Laws Amendment Bill, [B 36D-2010] (Reprint) as adopted by the portfolio committee of the National Assembly. I thank you. [Applause.]
There was no debate.