Thousands of Eastern Cape school children will begin the new academic year without textbooks.
The Daily Dispatch yesterday learnt that schools in Grahamstown and some rural areas of the province were likely to be most affected.
Provincial education spokesman Malibongwe Mtima confirmed that the department had not been able to deliver textbooks to all schools.
“There has been slow delivery of textbooks because orders were made late,” he said. “But we have started delivering. We will finish delivering by the end of January.”
Orders were submitted to the Publisher’s Association of South Africa (Pasa).
Mtima said the department was only topping up textbooks in schools and not delivering a consignment to each school at once.
The spokesman said the department had delivered all learner-teacher support materials (LTSM) including 100% of stationery.
He could not provide a breakdown for the delivery of textbooks and LTSM per district at the time of writing.
Pasa provincial representative Warren Kliphuis confirmed that orders were received late last year.
They included:
lGrade 11 literature for ordinary schools was only ordered on December 5;
lGrade R literature for ordinary schools was ordered the week of November 20;
lGrade R and Grade 11 literature for special needs schools was ordered the week of November 20.
“Publishers have worked as hard as they can to deliver despite the serious delays by the Eastern Cape department of education,” he said.
As of yesterday, Kliphuis said about 99% of the textbooks ordered had been delivered to the provincial warehouse, of which the majority was ready for delivery to schools.
“Unfortunately we are not in a position to go ahead with school deliveries until the department submits official orders for the cost of delivering to schools.”
He said this was in accordance with their contract with the department. “For some reason the department omitted this cost from their official orders.
“As a result we have submitted several requests for this to be resolved (and have cautioned the department about the delays and the impact it will have on schools) but have not yet received the outstanding orders,” Kliphuis said.
He said if the department would submit the outstanding orders as Pasa requested, delivery would commence immediately.
Education expert Graeme Bloch said: “I think textbooks and all resources make a fundamental difference to the dignity of young learners and therefore are crucial, especially in rural areas.”
East London education expert Dr Ken Alston said: “The department has to carry the responsibility.
“Pupils should also be held accountable for losing textbooks to ensure that they return them. There will be losses and damages but there need to be controls in place.”
Last year, Department of Basic Education director-general Matanzima Mweli revealed that there could be textbook shortages at the beginning of the new academic year. — msindisif@dispatch.co.za
lSee our Opinion, page 8
No textbooks for thousands of East Cape pupils
The Daily Dispatch yesterday learnt that schools in Grahamstown and some rural areas of the province were likely to be most affected.
Provincial education spokesman Malibongwe Mtima confirmed that the department had not been able to deliver textbooks to all schools.
“There has been slow delivery of textbooks because orders were made late,” he said. “But we have started delivering. We will finish delivering by the end of January.”
Orders were submitted to the Publisher’s Association of South Africa (Pasa).
Mtima said the department was only topping up textbooks in schools and not delivering a consignment to each school at once.
The spokesman said the department had delivered all learner-teacher support materials (LTSM) including 100% of stationery.
He could not provide a breakdown for the delivery of textbooks and LTSM per district at the time of writing.
Pasa provincial representative Warren Kliphuis confirmed that orders were received late last year.
They included:
lGrade 11 literature for ordinary schools was only ordered on December 5;
lGrade R literature for ordinary schools was ordered the week of November 20;
lGrade R and Grade 11 literature for special needs schools was ordered the week of November 20.
“Publishers have worked as hard as they can to deliver despite the serious delays by the Eastern Cape department of education,” he said.
As of yesterday, Kliphuis said about 99% of the textbooks ordered had been delivered to the provincial warehouse, of which the majority was ready for delivery to schools.
“Unfortunately we are not in a position to go ahead with school deliveries until the department submits official orders for the cost of delivering to schools.”
He said this was in accordance with their contract with the department. “For some reason the department omitted this cost from their official orders.
“As a result we have submitted several requests for this to be resolved (and have cautioned the department about the delays and the impact it will have on schools) but have not yet received the outstanding orders,” Kliphuis said.
He said if the department would submit the outstanding orders as Pasa requested, delivery would commence immediately.
Education expert Graeme Bloch said: “I think textbooks and all resources make a fundamental difference to the dignity of young learners and therefore are crucial, especially in rural areas.”
East London education expert Dr Ken Alston said: “The department has to carry the responsibility.
“Pupils should also be held accountable for losing textbooks to ensure that they return them. There will be losses and damages but there need to be controls in place.”
Last year, Department of Basic Education director-general Matanzima Mweli revealed that there could be textbook shortages at the beginning of the new academic year. — msindisif@dispatch.co.za
lSee our Opinion, page 8
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