POLOKWANE – Yet another deadline for the final delivery of textbooks to schools in Limpopo has passed with some schools still reporting shortages.
This is the latest in an ongoing battle to ensure all learners in the province have access to textbooks.
The latest deadline was set for Friday after Better Education for All (Befa), an organisation that campaigns for access to education for all learners, took the department of basic education to court in an effort to have textbooks supplied to 39 schools in Limpopo that reported shortages.
The North Gauteng high court ordered that all textbooks be delivered before June 6.
Review spoke to Befa spokesperson, Tebogo Sephakgamela, about the delivery of these textbooks in Limpopo. Sephakgamela said the organisation did receive reports from schools that said they received the books they needed. “On the other hand, there are schools that did not receive any of the outstanding books,” said Sephakgamela.
Civil rights group, Section 27, supported Befa in their court bid and their spokesperson, Nikki Steyn, said the group would monitor all textbook deliveries in the province. “We will meet with school governing bodies and principals to discuss the way forward.”
Some schools in Polokwane also reported textbook shortages.
The principal of a local primary school said the department of education contacted the school and promised that the books would be delivered soon. “We had to make plans to cope with the shortages, and in some cases, we were forced to make copies of textbooks. This in itself is not legal, but we were left with no other options,” he said.
The principal of a high school in the city said schools needed to stand up for themselves. “There is a problem at the department. We have to start going to the warehouses and pick up the books we need,” he said. “Keep contacting the department and fetch the books yourself. That is the only way to get things done.”
Jack Mokobi, education spokesperson, said all textbooks were delivered as promised, despite schools reporting shortages. He said schools could contact the department if they experienced any further problems.
