Post Office puts a stamp on education

LIMPOPO – During 2013, the Limpopo Department of Education was continuously in the news because some schools failed altogether to receive their books. It later emerged that some undelivered books were burned to hide the evidence.

This year however it seems that the fate of the province schools have changed after the departments Spokesperson, Mr Phuti Seloba said they have achieved more than 99% on the delivery of textbooks. “The only reason why we cannot give ourselves 100% is that schools are now responding to report incorrect deliveries. Some schools are also experiencing a shortage of one or two books and the department is attending to all these issues,” he said.

This “shortage” Seloba is referring to could be the reason why several schools in the area have not received any grade 7 textbooks to date. “I know for a fact that Steelpoort Academy, Ohrigstad primary school and Burgersfort primary school have not received these textbooks,” a parent revealed to Steelburger/Lydenburg news on Teusday.

Seloba explained the situation by saying, “We are aware of that. Grievances should be reported to our toll free number, 0800-265-266.”

This newspaper tried phoning this number several times without success.

Meanwhile, in the Northern Cape, the SA Post Office Logistics Group had delivered most school books for schools in the province before they opened for the 2013 academic year.

It now seems that Limpopo Department of Education also decided to use this group for the delivery of this year’s texts books.

“Limpopo learners have started the 2014 academic year with a full set of text books. The Post Office is proud about the fact that we delivered more than 6 million books ahead of time, but not surprised because we have been doing it in the Northern Cape for some time now. This project was completed successfully, with the delivery of school books for all Limpopo schools forming part of the project completed before the end of November 2013” read a statement issued by the group.

The SA Post Office delivered more than 6 million books to more than 3000 schools. Some were in such inaccessible places that trucks could not reach them and Logistics had to use 4×4 vehicles.

When going to print it was confirmed that some of the grade 7 textbooks had been delivered, but not all.

Compared to disasterious textbook problems of last year the situation seem to have improved.