Contradicting figures have emerged about the number of Eastern Cape pupils who have benefited from the delivery of school furniture.
An affidavit filed by the acting provincial education superintendent-general Ray Tywakadi on November 7 stated lower numbers than those submitted by Basic Education Minister Angie Motshekga in her reply in parliament last month.
Motshekga said 140528 units had benefited 281056 pupils at 911 schools. However, numbers submitted by Tywakadi were much lower.
This follows a court order made in February this year by Mthatha High Court Judge Glenn Goosen in a matter involving a legal battle launched by the Centre for Child Law represented by the Legal Resource Centre (LRC).
Goosen ordered government and the provincial education department to provide every public school in the province with adequate school furniture before May 31 this year.
In June, the provincial education department applied for a four-month extension to meet the Mthatha High Court order.
In his supplementary affidavit filed at the Mthatha High Court last week “as an update on the status of furniture delivery”, Tywakadi said the Department of Basic Education (DBE) has planned to deliver 98281 double desks to benefit 165562 pupils in 856 schools in the Eastern Cape.
“To date 30240 desks have been delivered to 309 schools benefiting 60480 pupils.”
Tywakadi said a further 544 schools in eight areas will receive furniture, with delivery starting at the end of this month.
“It is estimated the deliveries should be completed by the end of January” next year.
Tywakadi said a R40-million national budget had been allocated for procurement of furniture, which will benefit 460 schools. A R60-million tender from the Eastern Cape will benefit a further 490 schools.
Motshekga said in her reply her department had provided furniture to schools in the province.
“To date 140528 units, benefiting 281056 pupils, have been delivered to 911 schools. Furniture is in the process of being delivered to a further 1174 schools, to benefit 352200 pupils.”
She said the budget required for the department to fulfil the promise made by President Jacob Zuma during his state of the nation address earlier this year was over R193-million. The department only had R100-million.
Questions were sent to the DBE and provincial education department but a response had not been received at the time of writing yesterday.
LRC attorney Cameron McConnachie said the discrepancies between Tywakadi’s affidavit and Motshekga’s parliamentary response were worrying.
McConnachie, however, said the situation on the ground was improving. — msindisif@dispatch.co.za
Confusion over desks at schools
An affidavit filed by the acting provincial education superintendent-general Ray Tywakadi on November 7 stated lower numbers than those submitted by Basic Education Minister Angie Motshekga in her reply in parliament last month.
Motshekga said 140528 units had benefited 281056 pupils at 911 schools. However, numbers submitted by Tywakadi were much lower.
This follows a court order made in February this year by Mthatha High Court Judge Glenn Goosen in a matter involving a legal battle launched by the Centre for Child Law represented by the Legal Resource Centre (LRC).
Goosen ordered government and the provincial education department to provide every public school in the province with adequate school furniture before May 31 this year.
In June, the provincial education department applied for a four-month extension to meet the Mthatha High Court order.
In his supplementary affidavit filed at the Mthatha High Court last week “as an update on the status of furniture delivery”, Tywakadi said the Department of Basic Education (DBE) has planned to deliver 98281 double desks to benefit 165562 pupils in 856 schools in the Eastern Cape.
“To date 30240 desks have been delivered to 309 schools benefiting 60480 pupils.”
Tywakadi said a further 544 schools in eight areas will receive furniture, with delivery starting at the end of this month.
“It is estimated the deliveries should be completed by the end of January” next year.
Tywakadi said a R40-million national budget had been allocated for procurement of furniture, which will benefit 460 schools. A R60-million tender from the Eastern Cape will benefit a further 490 schools.
Motshekga said in her reply her department had provided furniture to schools in the province.
“To date 140528 units, benefiting 281056 pupils, have been delivered to 911 schools. Furniture is in the process of being delivered to a further 1174 schools, to benefit 352200 pupils.”
She said the budget required for the department to fulfil the promise made by President Jacob Zuma during his state of the nation address earlier this year was over R193-million. The department only had R100-million.
Questions were sent to the DBE and provincial education department but a response had not been received at the time of writing yesterday.
LRC attorney Cameron McConnachie said the discrepancies between Tywakadi’s affidavit and Motshekga’s parliamentary response were worrying.
McConnachie, however, said the situation on the ground was improving. — msindisif@dispatch.co.za
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