The Mpumalanga Department of Education refutes the allegations made by the Democratic Alliance (DA) that 70% of the schools within the province have shortages of Learning and Teaching Support Material (LTSM) with the contempt it deserves.
The fact is that the department has delivered 100% LTSM that was ordered by the schools by 28 November 2014. Schools were advised that should it happen that there is an increase in learner enrolment, they need to place another order to supplement the delivered stationary. Schools complied accordingly and deliveries were made in January this year.
The procurement of top-up textbooks which involved replacement of damaged books for the 2014 academic year as well as procurement of textbooks for new schools or classes for the 2015 academic year was done in February 2014 and the books were delivered to schools in March and April 2014.
To be precise the department only procured folklore to schools in 2014 and after the deliveries were made, schools were granted an opportunity to present their shortages which were procured and delivered from the day of schools opening in 2015.
It is worth mentioning that the appointment of the new agency in September 2014 did not have any negative impact in the procurement and delivery of LTSM to schools.
Schools are expected to retain books supplied to them over a period of at least four years.
The department supplied books for every learner in every grade and subject from 2012 to 2014.
In addition to this, every school is given an opportunity every year in a top-up process to purchase additional books to make up for damaged books and buy for new grades or classes where applicable.
To suggest that there are huge textbooks shortages is simply devoid of the truth.
The DA is urged to make its verifications with the department before making such unfounded allegations.
For inquiries contact:
Jasper Zwane
Cell: 083 743 1804
E-mail: j.zwane@education.mpu.gov.za
