As civil society organisations committed to food justice, children’s health and education rights, we are alarmed by the recent handover of McDonald’s-branded ‘Mi Desk’ desks to two Cape Town schools, facilitated by the Minister of Basic Education, Siviwe Gwarube. This follows similar corporate-branded desk donations from Old Mutual and Hollywood Continue Reading
By Gertrude Quan, Isabel Magaya and Mila Harding Should the Department of Basic Education pass this amendment, it will not only be failing its legal obligation to protect learners from the dangers of alcohol abuse, but it will be proactively assisting in the promotion of underage drinking. “What is more important Continue Reading
By Gertrude Quan, Isabel Magaya and Mila Harding Corporal punishment has been unlawful in South African schools for more than two decades – section 10 of the Schools Act, 1996 states that no person may inflict corporal punishment against a learner at a school. It is a crime. The constitutionality of Continue Reading
By Roné McFarlane Rather than introducing something new, the Basic Education Laws Amendment Bill is just bringing the law in alignment with what cases have already confirmed: the role of school governing bodies is critical, but the State has important and final oversight responsibility to ensure equity. A breach of Continue Reading
Recent plans to eradicate pit toilets from schools in Limpopo are a step in the right direction, but still need work.
Dear Minister Motshekga, The basic education sector has faced exceptional challenges since Covid-19 set in motion a raft of restrictions and lockdowns. The phased reopening of schools, with grades 7 and 12 returning first, followed by further disruptions to normal timetabling, have resulted in a patchwork school calendar for almost Continue Reading
MEDIA ADVISORY: LIMPOPO SCHOOL PIT TOILET CASE TO BE HEARD TOMORROW 5 August 2021 – The Limpopo Division of the High Court will hear Rosina Komape and Others v. Minister of Basic Education and Others case of 2015 in Polokwane on Friday, 6 August 2021. This is the continuation of a case heard Continue Reading
21 July 2021 Joint media statement: Hope in the fight against child hunger, as court orders government to rethink its plans to ensure that all learners get school meals during the COVID-19 pandemic! “I am happy about this court order because it helps those learners who depend on school meals Continue Reading
Over 1.5 million learners are still not provided with National School Nutrition Programme meals, with some education departments failing to report on rollout.
SECTION27 joins case about unsafe school infrastructure Education authorities must be held accountable for learner safety and school infrastructure, says SECTION27. 28 October 2020, Johannesburg – SECTION27 was yesterday admitted as an amicus curiae (friend of the court) in the Local Division of the Johannesburg High Court in the Mahudu Continue Reading
Following the Phakamisa judgment which confirmed that undocumented learners must not be denied access to schools because of their status, the Department of Basic Education has issued Circular 1 of 2020 – Undocumented Learners which states that in view of the judgment, circular 1 of 2019 is withdrawn with immediate effect.
A statement from Basic Education for All (BEFA), SECTION27 and the Treatment Action Campaign (TAC) We are horrified and angry at media and Department of Basic Education reports that five year old Lumka Mkhethwa died in a pit latrine at Luna Primary school in Bizana in the Eastern Cape. This Continue Reading
