Government-funded programmes and services for vulnerable - Unicef

Government-funded programmes and services for vulnerable children in SA
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National Policy for an Equitable Provision of an Enabling School Physical Teaching
and Learning Environment, 2008
Policy for the Registration of Learners for Home Education (in terms of the National
Education Policy Act, 1996)
Policy on Learner Attendance, May 2010, Department of Education
Key legislation
● The Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, Act No. 108 of 1996
● Admission Policy for Ordinary Schools Act, No. 27 of 1996
● The National Education Policy Act, 1996
● The South African Schools Act, 1996
● The National Norms and Standards for Public School Funding, 1998
● The Exemption of Parents from the Payment of School Fees Regulations, 1998
● Education Laws Amendment Act, No. 24 of 2005
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The Children’s Act, No. 38 of 2005 as amended by Act No. 41 of 2007 and
Act No. 75 of 2008
● Amended National Norms and Standards for School Funding, 2006
● Revised Exemption of Parents from the Payment of School Fees Regulations, 2006
● National Minimum Norms and Standards for School Infrastructure, 2008
Programmes and services provided
The DoE provides programmes and services that guarantee admission, accommodation
and retention of vulnerable learners in schools in accordance with the national admissions
policy which prohibits discrimination against children on any grounds, and programmes
that provide care and support to promote inclusion and continued attendance of
vulnerable learners, including:
● admission and registration of children without supporting documents; 80
● admission to public schools for foreign children;
● admission and accommodation of learners with disabilities and/or special needs in
public schools;
● admission, accommodation and retention of learners affected by HIV/AIDS and poverty;
● provision of psychosocial support;
● protection of learners from abuse and neglect;
● protection against discrimination for learners who become pregnant;
● protection against discrimination for failure to pay school fees.
Assisting children with school fees, transport/accessibility and school uniforms
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No-fee schools
School fee exemptions
Duty to protect the rights of parents to participate in decisions about school fees and
their rights to school fee exemptions
School uniform guidelines to make uniforms more affordable
Physical access to schools and access to transport
80 Section 5 of the South African Schools Act and the Admission Policy for Ordinary Schools
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