Saturday 02 November

With the start of the 2014 academic year, SECTION27 has been monitoring the state of textbook delivery to schools across Limpopo.

While we are not able to follow up individually with each school as to whether they have received all of their textbooks for 2014, the school governing bodies (SGBs) at a sample of 80 schools have confirmed improved delivery of their textbooks. These SGBs have further stated that the Limpopo Department of Education has undertaken to address those shortages reported to them without delay.

We commend the Department of Basic Education and the Limpopo Department of Education on their improvement in textbook delivery for the 2014 academic year. Textbooks are key to the delivery of a quality basic education in terms of section 29 of the Constitution. To the extent that there are still textbooks outstanding, therefore, we emphasise that these must be delivered to schools urgently.

We encourage schools to continue to report textbooks shortages to the Department of Basic Education, the Limpopo Department of Education and SECTION27 to ensure that these shortages are addressed as soon as possible.

Please contact Nikki Stein on 082 528 7232 or via email: stein@section27.org.za for more information.