The National Council of Provinces Select Committee on Education and Technology has amended the Basic Education Laws Amendment (Bela) Bill.

They have removed the section granting powers to the head of department to determine the language policy of a school. Instead, the committee proposed that the School Governing Body should have the power to decide the language policy of a public school.

The Select Committee met today to finalise amendments to the Bela Bill. The committee also clarified that the bill states that Grade R would be compulsory.