Government is to crack down on the parents of unruly pupils who fail to support the school system.

Although Education Minister was vague on the details to be included in the Education Amendment Act, she warned parents who don?t act responsibly would ?feel the brunt of this bill?.

In her speech to the House of Assembly on Friday, Ms Cox said: ?There is a plethora of recent events that have filled our newspapers and news programmes which underscore the need for this legislation.?

This was an apparent reference to the recent assault on Berkeley teacher Arnold Manders, among other high profile incidents.

?For the benefit of those who will be looking for some particular themes in the legislation, this Bill and the Rules that will follow, deal with matters pertaining directly to the parental support of schools,? she continued.

?I ask permission to table the Education Amendment (No 2) Act 2003, thereafter we will bring the Education (School Support) Rules and this will contain the meat of the legislation.

?This amending legislation will permit the Minister of Education to enact rules pertaining to parental support of schools.

?It will identify the sanctions that will be imposed on those parents who breach the Rules. ?I would like to go on record and say that this bill is the first part of a two-pronged legislative framework that will set out in the strongest possible terms what is expected of parents who send their children to public school.

?It is for those parents, whose contribution to the schools where their children attend is less than adequate, that this legislation is directed.

?Parents who do not, and have not demonstrated, that they are prepared to act responsibly when it comes to their children are the ones who will feel the brunt of this bill.?