GAUTENG LEGISLATURE

NEGOTIATING MANDATE ON EDUCATION LAWS AMENDMENT BILL [B38B-2003] (Section 76 Bill)

The Acting Chairperson of the Education Portfolio Committee, Mr. Amon Msane, tabled the Committee's negotiating mandate on the Education Laws Amendment Bill [B38B-2003] as follows

1. PROCESS FOLLOWED
The Speaker formally referred the Education Laws Amendment Bill [B38B-2003],a Section 76 Bill, to the Education Committee on 18 September 2OO3

In accordance with Rule 6.51 (1) (b), the Head of the Gauteng Department of Education (GDE), Mr Malele Petje, accompanied by a delegation of senior officials from the Department attended .the meeting and a senior official, Ms Sally Rowney, briefed the committee on the content of the Bill on Friday, 25 September 2003, The Gauteng permanent delegate to the NGOP, Ms Bernice Sono, also briefed the Committee on the Bill.

On Friday, 3 October 2003, the Committee met to deliberate on the technical and substantive amendments to the Bill. On Monday 10 November 2003, the Committee adopted this negotiating Mandate.

2. OBJECTIVE OF THE BILL
The Bill seeks to amend four Acts so as to make certain technical adjustments clarify matters and to insert certain provisions to cover matters that are not provided for by existing provisions of the Acts.

Amendment of the South African Qualifications Authority(Act no. 58 of 1995), the Employment of Educators Act, 1998 (Act No. 76 Of 1998) and General and Further Education and Training Quality Assurance Act, 2001 (Act No. 58) are primarily of a technical nature. Amendments to the South African Schools Act, 1996 (Act No. 84 of 1996) are substantive.

3. PRINCIPLE OP THE BILL
The Committee and the Department of Education supports the principle of the Bill.

4. IMPLICATIONS OF THE BILL TO THE PROVINCE
The BilI has no financial Implications for the province.

5. NEGOTIATING POSITlON ADOPTED BY THE COMMITEE
The Committee supports the principle and details of the Education Amendment Bill [B38B-2003]