The release of new school admission regulations under the controversial Basic Education Laws Amendment (BELA) Act has moved the battle over community-driven education into a new phase.

According to the Freedom Front Plus (VF Plus), the focus now shifts from trying to block the law to managing how it is applied. While the party describes the regulations as the best possible outcome within the confines of an “objectionable” law, they warn that the provincial Head of Department will now have the final say over admissions, even if required to consult with school governing bodies (SGBs). SGBs retain the right to set their own admission policies, but intervention can occur if these are deemed to unfairly exclude certain learners.

VF Plus MP Dr Wynand Boshoff said the definition of a “school community” remains problematic, excluding schools whose communities may live outside the immediate area. He argued that the changes effectively turn public community schools into state-controlled institutions, with communities burdened by management responsibilities but stripped of decision-making power.

The party is urging stakeholders to submit comments on the regulations while calling for greater investment in affordable, independent education. Boshoff also encouraged stronger cooperation between public and independent Afrikaans schools to preserve cultural and linguistic education.

“Single-mindedness in purpose and pursuit for Afrikaans education, in the broadest sense, is critically important,” he said, warning that while public schools currently have more resources, government could withdraw them at any time, leaving independent education as the more secure long-term option. This lens highlights the tension between state oversight and local autonomy as schools navigate a new policy environment.