Education Department ‘delivers’ on promise
"The department's deadline to have all top up books and stationery delivered was the end of January and we have met that deadline," Rasila said.
LIMPOPO – The Department of Education says it has delivered all stationary and top up books to schools that were short of teaching materials at the beginning of the school year.
This follows the department being in the spotlight yet again as many schools were left without stationery when schools opened on 11 January. The South African Human Right’s Commission’s (SHRC) decision to take legal action on non-delivery of textbooks in the province came days later called on the Limpopo Department of Education to deliver all outstanding textbooks to all affected schools by 23 January 2017.
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Department of Education spokesperson Dr Naledzani Rasila confirmed the department has delivered the top-up books and the stationary.
He explained that textbooks in general were delivered at the end of 2016 and what the department were doing now was simply delivering top ups and stationery.
“You’ll find that sometimes, learners do not return the books at the end of the year and so there is a shortage. This top up will ensure that there is no shortage,” he told Review.
Rasila says the delay was caused by an expired contract but says the new contract is valid for three years and this will ensure that everything is delivered on time.
The department is encouraging principals to contact local education officials or use its toll free number if they find themselves running out of supplies.
