<P> The National Party (NP) was able to capitalise on the fear of racial integration in the schools to build its support . The NP's narrow election victory in 1948 gave Afrikaans new standing in the schools and, after that, all high - school graduates were required to be proficient in Afrikaans and English . The NP government also reintroduced Christian National Education as the guiding philosophy of education . </P> <P> Before 1953, many black people attended schools set up by religions organisations . These schools provided schooling of the same quality that white children received in state schools . Following the Bantu Education Act (No. 47) of 1953 the government tightened its control over religious high schools by eliminating almost all financial aid, forcing many churches to sell their schools to the government or close them entirely . </P> <P> The South African government implemented an education system called Christian National Education (CNE). The basis of this system is that a person's social responsibilities and political opportunities are defined by that person's ethnic identity . </P> <P> Although CNE advanced principles of racial inferiority, it promoted teaching of cultural diversity and enforced mother - tongue instruction in the first years of primary school . The government gave strong management control to the school boards, who were elected by the parents in each district . </P>

Which principle formed the foundation of christian national education