OUR
PROJECTS
The Real BELA Bill
The South African Schools Act dates back to 1996 when it laid the foundations for a Post-Apartheid educational dispensation.
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In October 2017 the Department of Basic Education called for public comment on a Basic Education Laws Amendment Bill. This bill unfortunately does little to address the challenges facing basic education in South Africa and does not take account of the technological, socio-economic and legal changes of the last twenty years.
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The Real BELA Bill project is working to have the Bill amended to create a legislative framework that addresses the crisis in education.
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Matric for All
The current real Matric pass rate (based on the number of students entering School in Grade 1 who end up obtaining matric) is under 40%.
Hundreds of thousands of young South Africans are excluded from the job market or from further education because they lack a Matric. The new National Senior Certificate (matric) is a three -year qualification that can cost on average R32 000 for a private candidate to complete.
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In order to create an environment in which every South African resident can have access to a matric we propose a matriculation option modelled on the American General Equivalency Diploma (GED) system.
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The key characteristics of this would be a matric that is:
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open to all (no prerequisites - no need to have completed grade 10 and 11)
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affordable (a low examination entrance fee)
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accessible learning resources (Both on line or available through a number of physical locations)
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has multiple sittings per year, but preferably at any time taken online at special centres
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The Community-Based Schools Project
The education systems in Gauteng and the Western Cape are currently being over-whelmed by an influx of learners. The state lacks the capacity to accommodate these learners. There is, however, a growing and vibrant community-based schooling sector. It could provide thousands of places to students. The main factor holding back this sector is excessive and costly regulation.
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Starting or attending an independent school is not a privilege granted by the state but a right enshrined in the constitution. If the registration practices of the the provincial education departments are amended, the registration process is made affordable and changes are made to make the regulations reasonable LearnFree believes that a hundreds of additional schools could be registered every year.
Pit Latrines Financial Services Research Group
This project is in the pre-project phase. We are gathering a team of professionals in the financial services industry to look at creative ways of financing sanitation projects as well as using risk management techniques while pit latrines are being replaced.
