A better understanding of education law – and especially its application – is the key to the improvement of the South African education system. The comprehensive contribution in this regard by the Federation of Governing Bodies of South African Schools (FEDSAS) has now been acknowledged by the South African Education Law Association, or Saela, with the election of several FEDSAS leaders to Saela’s leadership team.

FEDSAS’ Deputy CEO, Dr Jaco Deacon was elected as president at Saela’s conference in Cape Town. Deacon is regarded as one of the foremost experts on education law in South Africa. He is the author of several publications on education law and also plays a leading role in other legal associations. “The presidency is a big honour but an even bigger responsibility. The more platforms we have to make education law accessible to those who work with it every day – teachers, officials, members of governing bodies – the better our education system will become,” says Deacon.

It is the first time in Saela’s history of more than two decades that the president has been elected from outside academia. Ms Suzaan Mellet, Support Services Manager at FEDSAS, has also been elected to the leadership team, with FEDSAS’ Gauteng manager, Dr Jean van Rooyen the new treasurer and Prof. Rika Joubert, education researcher at FEDSAS, the new Saela secretary.

Saela is a forum which enables a diverse group of role-players to think about and discuss education law. FEDSAS has been a member of Saela for many years and has always been involved in the debates and development of education law. It has always been Saela’s aim to bring education role-players together to debate education issues in a safe environment. “People who, as a result of their mandate from their employers, might not have been able to discuss these issues can, as members of Saela, take part in debates on education law and its interpretation,” explains Deacon.

This year’s Saela conference ends on 07 September 2016 in Cape Town. Speakers include the Western Cape Education Minister, Ms Debbie Schäfer as well as three members of the team who was responsible for writing the South African Schools’ Act, including Judge Eberhard Bertelsman. Conference-goers were also addressed by four primary school learners. Papers are read by school principals, lawyers, advocates and academics, with education law the common focus.