South Africans could face imprisonment if their children do not attend school under the new Bela bill.

South Africa's parliament has passed a significant education bill that could result in parents being imprisoned if their children do not attend school. The Basic Education Laws Amendment (Bela) allows for parents to be sentenced for up to 12 months if their children are absent from school without a valid reason or if they are not enrolled when they reach school age. The bill also prohibits corporal punishment in all schools. This legislation marks the most extensive reform in education since the end of apartheid in 1994. The ruling African National Congress (ANC) asserts that the bill will revolutionize the education system and tackle current and historical challenges. However, the main opposition party, Democratic Alliance (DA), strongly opposes the bill, arguing that it grants excessive control to the state and will lead to the collapse of education. The DA staged protests during the vote and has threatened legal action in the constitutional court if the bill is enacted into law. With a substantial majority in parliament, the ANC was able to secure the bill's passage with 223 MPs in favor, while only 83 opposed it. Notably, education expert Mary Metcalf supports the bill, stating that there should be repercussions for parents who fail to send their children to school. She considers it the absolute minimum duty of a parent. Earlier this year, a study found that 8 out of 10 South African school children struggle to read by age 10.