More textbook deception from Minister

“Minister Angie Motshekga has done the learners of Limpopo a great disservice by refusing to accept responsibility for textbook shortages in schools” was the reaction of the DA to the latest Text Book Debacle in Limpopo.

The Minister claims that the principal of Duiwelskloof Primary has signed for textbooks received and is therefore a liar. The fact is that Duiwelskloof Primary only received textbooks for Science, English home language & Life Skills. After the DA’s visit to the warehouse, maths books were delivered to the school this weekend, but only in English. Books for most of the core subjects remain undelivered.

Why would the principal be writing desperate letters to parents apologizing for the non-delivery of textbooks in core subjects if the school had already received books?

On arrival at the Polokwane warehouse, the DA found thousands of textbooks while schools are still without books 2 months into the year.

How can these books be additional stock when so many schools have shortages?

Schools contacted by the DA verified drastic shortages of books:

Sego-High (Krantz, Ga-Matlala) – Grade 10- Geography, Grade 11-Maths and English

Sekati high(Sechaba Moletjie) – Grade 10 & 11 Science, Maths Literacy

Agishanang Primary (Lonsdale-Moletjie) – For all Grades only half the books have been delivered. No books received for Science, Life Orientation

Rammetloana Primary (Rammetloana, Moletjie) – Grade R-4 learners have no textbooks

Hoërskool Frikkie Meyer (Thabazimbi) – Grade 11 textbooks

Tshivhilindulu Primary (Thulamela) – Grade 4-6 English, Afrikaans and Maths

From our own telephonic surveys, the DA has a list of 56 schools in Limpopo that as of last week have not yet received all the textbooks they need. Given the sheer numbers of schools in the province, there are likely to be several hundred that our survey did not identify.

The DA will extend our monitoring of schools and continue to demand action where shortages exist.