19 February 2008
South African scholars will be taught a new Bill of Responsibilities as part of their life orientation lessons, which together with a schools’ pledge is intended to instil a culture of respect and responsibility in the country’s youngsters.
Unveiling the Bill on Monday, Education Minister Naledi Pandor said it listed 12 responsibilities that result from the rights afforded to South Africans by the country’s Constitution.
The responsibilities that are in the Bill are to ensure the right to equality, human dignity, life, family or parental care, education, work, freedom and security of the person, own property, freedom of religion, belief and opinion, live in a safe environment, citizenship and freedom of expression.
Although the Bill is already being distributed to schools, Pandor said that members of the public had until March to comment on it. “We need to get all sectors of society involved in this process to ensure that everybody understands it well,” she said.
Earlier this month, Pandor unveiled the draft National Schools Pledge, which aims to instil a sense of morality in young South Africans.
Source: BuaNews
