Introduction

Demonstrate how the South African School Act of 84 of 1996 is nested in the South African
Constitution, in terms of the values and principles is sets out to promote.

Over the years the South African Schools Act of 84 (SASA) has managed to rectify and uphold a
school system that promotes equality and retribution. The SASA is a legislation that governs the
provision of South Africans basic education ( reference school act). It has been governed and
implemented into the South African Constitution, which stands as supreme law of the Republic of
South Africa. The South African Schools Act of 84 seeks to promote a state of education that is
democratically lead which promotes fairness, equality and social justice. The South African Schools
Act of 84 has a sole responsibility of portraying the values and principles that the South African
Constitution has sworn to uphold and improve in South Africa. The South African School system sets
out to promote its values and principles in the following topics that this essay will discuss further.

The South Africa Schools Act of 84 sets out to address a persistent and constant challenge in the
Education sector. Promoting a Non-Racism and Non-Sexism proclamation in all of society and also in
Education. The Act addresses this matter by providing quality education to all learners regardless of
race and gender ( reference SASA). The Act also elaborates on the zero-tolerance towards
discriminating towards anyone on grounds of race and gender towards admission to any public
schools. The South African Schools Act of 84 also has a strong recognition of the strong diversity
among fellow South Africans, and therefore promotes a strong front on the celebration and
promotion of cultural diversity, hence that no learner will be discriminated against due to his/her
cultural difference in the school system.

The Socio-economic status of many learners in South Africa is a consistent issue, therefore the Act
has highlighted that the South African education department must promote equity in the allocation
of resources to schools to ensure that all learners have adequate material and resources to improve
a better learning experience. Governance of schools is a way of keeping a democratic order in place
therefore The South African Schools act motivates the importance of a selective SBG board that takes
responsibility in managing and governing the schools. Rules and regulations must still be uphold
according the SASA and the South African Constitution. This system is supposed to ensure that the
interest of learners, parents and educators are represented.

The schools act plays a tremendous role in ensuring that social justice, equality, and democracy is a
key focus point on how the South African education system is managed and reflected on. The Act
also has a positive influence in how diversity, inclusivity and multiculturism is portrayed, celebrated
and promoted. Which will assist in how discrimination and exclusivity is addressed in the present
state of education in South Africa and the future state of Education in South Africa. The SASA has
been nestled in the South African Constitution and has been resolute in the manner of promoting its
values and principles in the way the Education system is supposed to govern, manage, and improve
schools in South Africa.

The Aim of the SASA is to try and accomplish that the mission of the operation is aligned accurately
with the vision. As an educator its important to have a prior knowledge of The South African Schools
Act as the information presented can resolve many class and teaching related issues. Having a more
thorough understanding of cultural diversity can be a highlighted topic of discussion in classrooms.
Understanding where your fellow students and classmates come from will help create classroom
cohesion and can be beneficial to learning outcomes. It’s important to understand that inclusivity is
also a key contributor to a more unified school system, having a zero tolerance to any form of
discrimination about socio-economic status, race and gender can be beneficial to a educator’s
teaching methods. Having this approach can have a positive impact on attendance in the classroom
both physically and emotionally.

This essay will also discuss 4 aspects of the South African Schools Act of 84 by critiquing their value,
the extent to which they have been implemented and indicate the challenges that they present
within the South African schools currently.

Language:

The South African Schools Act governs the language policy that all public schools must utilise in
public schools within the country ( SASA reference). The language policies that schools adopt must
promote multilingualism, this will ensure that all learners are taught in their native language which
will help to establish a more united front on learning preferences from learners in South Africa. An
additional language as a medium of instruction must also be adhered to (Republic of South
Africa,1996). The constitution of South Africa officially recognises 11 languages and provides for the
right to receive education in the language of one’s choice. (Republic of South Africa,1996). Hall,2002
mentions that the importance of the language policy in South Africa is to provide learners with
resources to learn and understand in their own official language that will promote multilingualism
and strengthen social cohesion and national unity within the country.

Despite the intentions of the Language policy many schools still only allow two official languages
( Afrikaans and English). Many schools just ignore the promotion of multilingualism it may be
community or cultural driven, this is supported by the work of Taylor&Vinjevold,1999. They state
that many communities want their language to be the medium of instruction, the communities resist
the implementation of the language policy as many take it as a threat to their language and culture.
As the challenges facing the language policy are multifaceted, the most worrying issue is the lack of
resources and educators that can deliver lessons in the preferred languages of the learners especially
in rural areas. There is a lack of qualified teachers in rural areas where there is a big demand for
bilingual education, but the supply of qualified teachers is low. (Hall,2002) It was also mentioned that
resources are a problem to implement the language policy as textbooks, teaching materials and
language laboratories are of very low supply in rural areas with low socio-economic status
(Hall,2002). As many challenges and obstacles face the implantation of the language policy, it is still
very important that these challenges are met to help every learner regardless of race, culture or
gender to enjoy the full benefit of having an education in a language that is comfortable for them to
comprehend and fulfil their educational potential.

Multiculturism

I believe that the South African Schools Act of 84 has a significant role to manifest amongst the
diverse cultural learners at schools. The promotion of multiculturism at schools is a key in having
learners at schools feel comfortable with their backgrounds, customs, believes and values. Its
important to remember that many learners lose interest and withdraw themselves from minority
groups due to their different cultural, social, religious believes and customs. If this issue is not
resolved, then the end result will always be a segregated educational experience for many learners
among South Africa. (Mehlomakulu & Nkambule,2017) made a statement that many schools only
promote a mono-cultural basis that promotes the cultures and traditions of the majority group.
Hence almost ignoring the cultural diversity that exist within communities. Having this approach can
lead to cultural marginalization and exclusion of learners from minority groups.

As the most constant challenge for the whole education system is a lack of qualified teachers,
multiculturism is more complex and also includes a total lack of awareness to the sensitivity to
cultural diversity, how teachers are trained and strong resistance from many communities
(Moodley,2008).