We, the undersigned, call on the Chairperson and the members of the Portfolio Committee on Basic Education to postpone all public hearings on the Basic Education Laws Amendment Bill until after Easter. We also urge the Committee to consider the following points:

1) Add additional venues especially provincial capitals and major cities like Potchefstroom and Mbombela.
2) Venues should be chosen based on interest expressed in participating and in the major population centres.
3) Conduct an independent audit of all written submissions.
4) Hold virtual public hearings, especially for home schoolers.
We believe that the current schedule and arrangements for the public hearings are inadequate and pose significant challenges for interested parties to participate in the process effectively. The following are some of the reasons why we are calling for a postponement:

1) The hearing in Secunda was cancelled, and people have already spent money, travelled, and made arrangements to attend.
2) Roads are unsafe and affected by protest action in some areas.
3) In KZN, the focus is on preventing a repeat of the July riots, and civil society is organizing to ensure this and are unable to adequately prepare for the hearings if held over the weekend of 23 to 25 March.
4) Venues are and have only been made public at the last minute, which inhibits public participation.
5) Venues have been changed, adding to the confusion and making it difficult for people to plan their participation.
6) The Gauteng hearing is scheduled on Palm Sunday weekend, a time sacred to many Christians.
7) DA members of parliament have to either attend their party conference or attend the Gauteng hearings, which is unfair to them and their constituents.
8) Home schoolers are spread out throughout the country, and virtual hearings would enable them to participate more effectively.

We welcome the opportunity for rural areas to be visited, but this cannot be done at the expense of having hearings in major population centres. Some of these centres justify two locations, which we strongly urge the Committee to consider.

We recognize that the staff of the PCBE are not to blame for these challenges, but rather the undue haste to cram all these hearings into a few weeks and rush this Bill through Parliament. We believe that a postponement will allow for more effective public participation and contribute to a better outcome for all concerned.

Thank you for your consideration.