# Parliament’s Education portfolio committee warns much remains to be done to implement the BELA Act as parents prepare for the 2027 school year. The Act makes Grade R compulsory and changes admissions and language policies. The Department of Education reported 11-thousand-715 admission-policy reviews and 11-thousand-657 language-policy reviews from schools are outstanding. Committee Chair Joy Maimela says incomplete reviews could prejudice parents applying for admission. She says the committee raised several issues, including funding, infrastructure and capacity shortfalls, classroom shortages, practitioner qualifications, and delays in finalising regulations.
BELA Act implementation lagging as 2027 admissions loom