LIMPOPO – This is due to two suppliers, who are the sole suppliers of the textbooks, not yet delivering the books.
A presentation by the department to the Portfolio Committee on Education recently confirmed schools are still without Siyavula textbooks for maths and science for Gr 10 and 11, and Ku Dyela Nyama Ematlukeni for Gr 12.
DA Provincial Leader and Spokesperson on Education, Jacques Smalle, voiced concerns on the matter.
“The failure by the department to have a Memorandum of Understanding in place with all publishers to hold them accountable for the delivery of textbooks, indicates a lack of oversight over a critical indicator,” he said during an interview, adding that the delay proved a lack of planning that hampered the learners’ chances of having a successful academic year.
“Schools had to use their norms and standards budget to fund the non-delivery of textbooks and LTSM which will place more pressure on the schools’ planned expenditure,” he said.
“The DA is deeply concerned by the effect that the non-delivery of textbooks has had on schools and learners in the second quarter of the academic year.”
Smalle said last week the deadline to deliver textbooks had been extended until 19 May.
“It is clear that both the MEC for Education, Ishmael Kgetjepe and the Premier, Stanley Mathabatha, have lied and misled the people of Limpopo when presenting the 2017 school readiness report, by indicating that textbooks will be delivered to all schools by the end of March 2017.
“This is yet another year in Limpopo that our learners are being denied their textbooks by an uncaring ANC-led government since 2012,” Smalle said.
Spokesperson for the department, Dr Naledzani Rasila, said for the time being teachers can use alternatives as long as they cover the curriculum. He advised teachers to “share” (copy) textbooks, but said it is not recommended, “But what can we do?” he said.
He added it is not a question of buying books, as it is only available from the sole providers thereof.
