SEDIBENG SCHOOL TEXTBOOK CRISIS: DA DEMANDS ANSWERS FROM GAUTENG EDUCATION MEC

Up to 47 Sedibeng public schools have either too few or no prescribed books whatsoever for Grade 11 learners – more than a month into the 2016 school year. And the problem could affect all of Gauteng Province.

The DA has now written a formal letter to the Gauteng MEC of education demanding an explanation for and resolution of the crisis.

It is estimated that up to 200 Grade 11 learners have been negatively affected at each school in the Sedibeng West district – almost 10 000 learners in all in Sedibeng alone.

A local crisis meeting will be held tomorrow at the Prestigious Aureate High School between school representatives and the Sedibeng West district education department in an attempt to resolve the issue.

The crisis – involving at least 17 of the 47 public schools in the Sedibeng West District without any prescribed literature for Grade 11”s whatsoever and reportedly the rest with some textbooks lacking – could extend across the entire Gauteng Province, according to the DA’s Shadow Minister of Education in Gauteng, Khume Ramulifho.

He yesterday conducted a fact-finding tour with news media of several schools in the Sedibeng West school district to determine the extent of the problem. The crisis was uncovered by the DA in a special investigation.

As far as could be established by VaalWeekblad, the Sedibeng West District of the Gauteng Education Department was still determining the extent of the crisis for Thursday’s planned reportback.

Schools had reportedly already ordered the prescribed works in August last year and were specifically instructed by the Education Department not to buy the books in question and are still waiting for them. Some are reportedly using last year’s books.

“This is unacceptable that learners are still waiting so far into the first term – especially considering that schools ordered them as far back as August last year,” said Ramulifho.

He added he and the DA would relentlessly pursue the matter until it was resolved and those responsible for the crisis were held accountable.