Lying about address could land you in jail

[caption id="attachment_105412" align="alignright" width="300"] WE DO NEED AN EDUCATION: Would you lie to get your child into a classroom at a good school?[/caption]

Schools Act change may hit parents

PORT Elizabeth principals are against a possible change in the law that could see parents who lie about their children’s address face jail time.

The proposed change forms part of the Department of Basic Education’s revision of the South African Schools Act.

The proposal is still at an early stage and has not yet gone out for public comment.

But if it is passed, parents who lie about their home addresses to get their children accepted into a school could face at least six months in jail.

If a child lives within a 5km radius of a school (the feeder area) the child should be admitted to the school, according to the national admission policy.

Department spokesman Elijah Mhlanga said revision of the act had not been finalised. Once done, input from the public also had to be obtained.

He said this should be finalised late next year and if approved, implemented in 2017.

Lawson Brown High School principal Donovan Cairncross called the proposal harsh.

“But we need to remember that parents are the role models for their children. We have had cases where parents were dishonest about the addresses.

“In cases where the parents are dishonest, we usually call the parent in and reprimand them but we don’t take any legal action,” he said.

Chapman High principal William Abrahams said: “I hope the proposal does not happen because jail time disrupts family life. It should be the very last resort.”

-Sashika Pillay