The Deputy Minister of Basic Education launched a Bill of Responsibilities campaign in March 2011. The Bill is a joint initiative of the Department of Basic Education, Lead SA and the SA Interfaith Council. It was developed in consultation with learners and will form part of the curriculum. The Bill aims to translate the Bill of Rights in the Constitution into a practical guide for learners, educators, parents and caregiver on how to give life to key constitutional rights by recognising and giving effect to correlative responsibilities.

The Bill calls on schools, educators, learners and parents to give meaningful effect to the rights by fulfilling the following responsibilities:

• Build a common sense of belonging and national pride by extending friendship to all nations to give effect to the right to equality.
• Promote environmental sustainability to realise a clean environment.
• Practise religious tolerance towards realising freedom of religion, thought and opinion.
• Honour and respect one’s parents and other family members in recognition of the right to parental care.
• Treat other people with respect and dignity and at all times be kind, compassionate and sensitive to those around you to honour their right to human dignity.
• The right to work can only be realised by working hard at everything you do, but this right must not be exploited by exposing children to child labour.
• Protect one’s own and other’s safety by refraining from hurting, bullying or intimidating others.
• Exercise your right to freedom of expression by expressing views that do not constitute hate speech or which harm others.
• The rights to education can only be realised if learners attend school regularly, learn and work hard; co-operate with and respect teachers and fellow learners; and if teachers assume responsibility to promote and reflect a culture of learning and act professionally at all times.
• Equality requires that all persons are treated equally by learners and educators alike, and that no discrimination is practised.
• The right to property requires everyone to respect the property of others and that learners and educators alike give to charity and other good causes.
• The right to citizenship requires active participation in community life.
• The right to life requires the protection of others and that no one endanger the lives of others; that all strive to live a healthy life by exercising, eating properly and not using damaging substances or indulging in irresponsible behaviour that may lead to transmission of communicable diseases like HIV and AIDS.
• Parents and caregivers must ensure that learners attend school and that they receive support at home.

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Download the Bill of Responsibilities