Government-funded programmes and services for vulnerable - Unicef

Department of Basic Education
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ensure that all refugee children are guaranteed the rights guaranteed to other
children, which would include the right to education; 76
ensure that children who become pregnant before completing their education
are given an opportunity to continue with their education on the basis of their
individual ability; 77
protect children from child labour (including economic exploitation and
domestic work) that is harmful to the child’s education or development. 78
The DoBE has recognised that vulnerable children, including those made vulnerable
by poverty, HIV/AIDS and/or a disability, have historically faced numerous barriers
to education. These barriers have included cost barriers related to school fees, school
uniforms and transport, discrimination and inadequate facilities appropriate to meet the
specific needs linked to the vulnerability in question. The poor quality of education has
also proven to be a barrier, especially for children made vulnerable by poverty and for
children with disabilities. The Department has sought to address these barriers through
the following policies and laws so as to realise its vision of ‘a South Africa in which all
our people will have access to lifelong learning, education and training opportunities
which will, in turn, contribute towards improving the quality of life and building a
peaceful, prosperous and democratic South Africa’ (DoE 2009a: 18).
Key policies 79
● Education and Training White Paper, 1995
● Language in Education Policy, 1996
● National Policy on HIV/AIDS for Learners, Educators in Public Schools, and Students
in Further Education and Training Institutions, 1999
● Education White Paper 6: Special Needs Education – Building an Inclusive Education
and Training System, 2001
● Education White Paper 5 on Early Childhood Education, 2001
● School Health Policy, 2003
● Policy Framework on Orphans and other Children Made Vulnerable by HIV and
AIDS South Africa, 2005
● National Guidelines on School Uniforms, 2006
● The National Action Plan for Orphans and Other Children Made Vulnerable by HIV
and AIDS South Africa, 2006–2008
● National Norms and Standards for Grade R Funding, 2008
● Strategic Plan 2009–2013 and Operational Plans for 2009–2010, Department of
Education
● National School Nutrition Programme – A Guide for Secondary Schools, 2009
● The revised National Action Plan for Orphans and Other Children Made Vulnerable
by HIV and AIDS South Africa, 2009–2012
● The Child Labour Programme of Action for South Africa: Phase 2: 2008–2012,
Department of Labour
● HIV & AIDS and STI National Strategic Plan, 2007–2011
● Measures for the Prevention and Management of Learner Pregnancy, 2007,
Department of Education
76 UNCRC, Article 22; ACRWC, Article 23
77 ACRWC, Article 11(6); African Youth Charter, Article 13(4)(h)
78 UNCRC, Article 32(1); ACRWC, Article 15(1)
79 This study drew on previous policy mapping exercises conducted by Kallmann (2008) and Giese and Koch (2008a)
to assist with the identification and navigation of a number of the key policies and laws.
137