On 8 March 2013, following a series of discussions between SECTION27, the National Association of School Governing Bodies (NASGB), the Department of Basic Education (DBE) and the Limpopo Department of Education, the DBE has provided SECTION27 with a plan to address the urgent need for adequate and sufficient sanitation facilities in Limpopo Schools.
Read the Limpopo Department of Education’s plan and timeframes to address sanitation in Limpopo schools.
The Constitution says:
“Everyone has the right to a basic education.”
Every child the right to dignity and to be protected from neglect and or degradation.
In January 2013 SECTION27, acting on behalf of the parents, the School Governing Body (SGB) and community and the Chief of Madobi village wrote to the Department of Basic National (DBE) and the Limpopo Department of Education (LDE) to request action to address the shocking state of infrastructure at Jaji Secondary School in Vhembe district. This was necessary because the school has been complaining about dilapidated buildings and shortage of classrooms since 2005, but nothing has been done.
Read a detailed account of SECTION27’s priorities in 2013!
The Department of Basic Education (“DBE”) provided SECTION27 with a plan to address the school furniture backlog in the province on 15 December 2012. The plan was submitted following a meeting between SECTION27 and the DBE (including the Deputy Minister) and the Limpopo Department of Education to discuss the ongoing education crisis in Limpopo. A copy of the plan submitted by the Department is available below.
15 December 2012 marks the deadline for the delivery of textbooks to Limpopo schools for Grades 4, 5, 6 and 11 for 2013. This court-imposed deadline follows a failure by the Department of Basic Education and the Limpopo Department of Education to deliver textbooks to Limpopo schools for most of the 2012 academic year. Grades 4, 5, 6 and 11 will be starting the CAPS syllabus next year.
To assist the DBE to keep its promise we urge all school governing bodies (SGBs), learner organisations, parents and unions of teachers to report any shortages or incorrect delivery of these materials to the nearest office of the DBE. Also, send your reports to the one of the following organisations who will be monitoring the DBE’s progress with delivery of books.
As required by the order of the North Gauteng High Court of 4 October 2012, the Department of Basic Education filed an affidavit on 31 October 2012 detailing the steps taken to ensure timeous delivery of textbooks to the CAPS grades for next year.
Dear friends and comrades in Limpopo
The right to quality basic education is guaranteed by the Constitution. It is a right that must be fulfilled immediately and in full by the government, through the National Department of Basic Education (DBE) and the Limpopo Department of Education (the provincial Department).
Despite this we are aware of the exceedingly difficult conditions in which teaching and learning take place, and the challenges faced by teachers, learners, parents and school governing bodies in many schools in Limpopo
PM Live talks with Mark Heywood about the Limpopo Texbook Crisis on 08-08-2012.