Equal Education Law Centre

27/07/2026

27/07/2026

[Know Your Rights]📖 The law should not be difficult to understand.

The South African Schools Act is one of the most important laws protecting the rights of learners, parents, teachers and school communities. Yet legal language can often make it difficult to understand what your rights are.

That is why we have created an easy-to-understand guide to the South African Schools Act. This plain-language resource explains the law in clear, accessible language, helping learners, parents, teachers and school communities better understand their rights and responsibilities.

📥 Download the free guide here:https://eelawcentre.org.za/wp-content/uploads/sasa-booklet_by-eelc.pdf

📧 Prefer a printed copy? Email [email protected] to request one.

22/07/2026

22/07/2026

[Know Your Rights ⚖️] Pregnancy should never mean the end of a learner's education.

Every pregnant learner has the right to stay in school during and after pregnancy. No school may unfairly discriminate against, exclude, or pressure a learner to leave because of pregnancy. 🏫

South Africa has also committed to international and regional agreements that require the State to support pregnant learners, prevent discrimination, and help ensure that pregnancy is never a barrier to education. 🌍

Every learner has the right to dignity, equality, and education. ✊🏿

Learn more about these rights by reading our Learner Pregnancy and the Right to Education pamphlet 📖:https://eelawcentre.org.za/wp-content/uploads/learner-pregnancy-pamphlet-2026.pdf

20/07/2026

[Education Justice Ambassadors ⚖️] Last week was an exciting one for our Western Cape Education Justice Ambassadors (EJA) Fellows as they came together for Workshop Two!

On day one, fellows explored the role of public participation in shaping education policy by learning what public submissions are, why they matter, and how to draft and submit one to the United Nations. They then put their new knowledge into practice by writing their own submissions on issues affecting education. ✍️🏿📜

Day two focused on the power of media and communications in advancing social justice. Fellows identified education injustices in their own schools and communities and began developing youth-led projects that offer meaningful, community-driven solutions. They also explored how both traditional and social media can be powerful tools for advocacy and were challenged to transform their project messages into engaging social media campaigns. 📝📳

The workshop also featured an inspiring Youth Pathways panel discussion, where professionals from a range of sectors shared their career journeys, reflected on the lessons they have learned, and offered valuable advice on navigating life beyond school. 🗣️📢

A heartfelt thank you to our panelists for sharing your time, experiences, and wisdom with our fellows:

✨ Hope Mokadi – EELC Attorney
✨ Antony Mafume – Communications and Media Officer, Black Sash
✨ Lutho Gwarubana – Junior Civil Engineer
✨ Liisa Shangheta - Oceanographer

08/07/2026

[Department of Basic Education Enrichment Hub📚] Our team recently attended the Department of Basic Education South Africa Enrichment Hub, where we hosted an Access to Justice stall and engaged with learners through a series of interactive workshops.

Together, we explored important topics including ⚖️:
* Bullying in schools
* Gender-based violence in schools
* The rights of learners with disabilities
* Constitutional literacy and the Bill of Rights
* Access to justice for learners

Creating spaces where learners understand their rights and know where to turn for support is an important step towards building safer, more inclusive schools. ✊🏿

You can access our Bullying and Access to Justice resources using the links below.⬇️
* Bullying -https://eelawcentre.org.za/wp-content/uploads/eelc-bullying-pamphlet_final-2.pdf
* Access to justice -https://eelawcentre.org.za/wp-content/uploads/access-booklet-digital-pages-final.pdf

06/07/2026

[1976@50 Youth Summit on the Hill] Our Community Engagement Officer, Vuyolwethu Tswelekile facilitated a dialogue at the 1976@50 Youth Summit on the Hill, hosted at Constitution Hill as part of the Basha Uhuru Festival.

Our session, "How do we ensure equal and quality access to education?", brought together young people, activists, organisers, students and civil society to reflect on the legacy of 1976 while asking what the next 30 years of democracy must look like. 📚⚖️

One message stood out: the future of constitutionalism cannot be left to institutions alone. It requires active citizenship, collective organising, unity and a shared commitment to justice.

As we look towards the next 30 years of democracy, spaces like these empower young people to see themselves as active participants in the unfinished work of building a South Africa rooted in dignity, equality and meaningful access to rights. ✨

02/07/2026

Today, we celebrate a landmark victory for spatial justice, equality, and the right to adequate housing.

Congratulations to our comrades at Ndifuna Ukwazi and Reclaim the City, and everyone who has worked tirelessly on the Tafelberg matter. ⚖️

After a long road to justice, today's Constitutional Court judgment marks a significant victory against spatial inequality, affirming that well-located public land must be used to advance transformation, inclusion, and the constitutional rights of those historically excluded from our cities.

This victory reflects the persistence of communities, activists, and public interest organisations who have fought to ensure that justice is not only promised, but realised. ✊🏿 Amandla! Equal Education

ConCourt rules that Western Cape government and City of Cape Town are constitutionally obliged to provide affordable housing in the inner-city