Education Policy Objectives

National Education Policy Act

• The Act aims to achieve equitable education opportunities and redress past inequalities, ensuring no one is denied an education due to physical disability.
• It provides opportunities for life-long learning and encourages independent and critical thought.

Obligations to Consult

• The Minister determines policy after consulting with appropriate bodies, including the Council of Education Ministers (CEM).
• The CEM consists of the Minister of Basic Education, Deputy Minister, Heads of Provinces, Director-General, and Chairpersons of the Parliamentary Portfolio Committees.
• The Minister must consult with the Minister of Finance if policy involves spending state money.
• The Minister has discretion to consult with others for advice on determining national education policy.

Publication of Policy

• The Minister gives notice in the Government Gazette and indicates where the policy instrument can be obtained.
• The policy is tabled in Parliament within 21 days after the notice appears in the Gazette.

National Education Policy Act (NEPA)

• The Preamble aims to facilitate the democratic transformation of the national system of education, serving the needs and interests of all South Africans and upholding their fundamental rights.
• Section 2 gives the Minister the power to determine national education policy, consult with stakeholders, ensure publication and implementation, and evaluate and monitor policy.

Minister's Powers

• The Minister may determine national policies for education management information systems, organization, finance, innovation, and more.
• The Minister may also determine national policies for education institutions, compulsory school education, admission, curriculum, language, and control of learners.

Directive Principles of National Education Policy

• National policies must be directed towards advancing and protecting fundamental rights guaranteed in the Bill of Rights and international conventions.
• Policies must ensure equal access to education, protection against discrimination, and the right to education in the language of one's choice.

Further Directives

• Policy must enable the education system to contribute to the full personal development of each learner and the development of the nation.

Examples of National Policies

• National Policy on an Equitable Provision of an Enabling School Physical Teaching and Learning Environment
• Policy on Learner Attendance
• Policy for Determining the School Calendar
• Policy on the Organisation, Roles and Responsibilities of Education Districts

National Policy on Religion in Education

• The policy aims to ensure that schools recognize and respect the diversity of religious views and faiths.
• It considers four possible models of structuring the relationship between religion and the State: theocratic, repressionist, separationist, and cooperative models.