South Africa's New Education Legislation Sparks Controversy

South Africa's President Cyril Ramaphosa signed contentious education legislation, prompting backlash from the Democratic Alliance (DA), a key coalition partner. The bill aims to integrate Afrikaans-speaking schools by allowing the education department to approve language policies and making pre-primary education mandatory. The DA pledges a court challenge.

South Africa's President Cyril Ramaphosa signed contentious education legislation into law, igniting backlash from the Democratic Alliance (DA), the main coalition partner.

The bill grants the education department authority over school boards' language policies to combat discrimination. The ANC believes this will prevent using Afrikaans as a proxy for racial exclusion. Afrikaans had been promoted by the white minority under apartheid.

'This bill marks an important step towards resolving challenges in our education system,' Ramaphosa said. The DA, which has historically been seen as representing the white minority, supports single-language schools and vows to challenge the law in court. The bill also mandates one year of pre-primary education, bans corporal punishment, and regulates home-schooling. Ramaphosa has allowed a three-month consultation period for the bill's most controversial sections.

(With inputs from agencies.)