90% of school material delivered

Monday, January 18, 2010

Pretoria - About 90 percent of Learner Teacher Support Material has been delivered countrywide since the schools opened last week.

Provincial education spokespersons, who spoke to BuaNews on Monday, assured that everything was going according to plan and they expected 100 percent delivery before month end.

The delivery of textbooks and stationery in the Free State is at an advanced stage with more than 80 percent material having been delivered to schools.

"As of this year, we are using internal capacity, hence we are a little behind the schedule. The department cancelled some of the contractors we were using as it was costing more, but we are hoping to finish by the end of the month," said Free State education department spokesperson, Isaac Ntshauba.

About 90 percent of learning material has also been delivered to Gauteng schools.

Department spokesperson Charles Phahlane said that the delay in completing the delivery was due to under orders made by some schools last year.

"They've under ordered and realised later that they need more material. We are now waiting for suppliers, who are busy reprinting the stationery," Phahlane said.

Despite bad roads and weather in Limpopo, the province has managed to deliver more than 90 percent of support material.

Department spokesperson Ndo Mangala has assured that by month end all schools will have their material.

Meanwhile, plans have been put in place in Mpumalanga to ensure that the 2010 school year starts without glitches.

Provincial department spokesperson Jasper Zwane said the delivery of stationary was 100 percent completed including learner activity books and teachers' guides for Grade 1 to12.

"Due to the National Curriculum Statement Review, no new textbooks have been ordered for 2010 - only top ups will be ordered in the second term of 2010," Zwane said.

In the Western Cape, 100 percent of teaching material has also been delivered to 405 non section 21 schools.

Western Cape Education MEC Donald Grant said 99 percent of text books ordered for Grade 11 had been delivered.

"Every Grade 11 learner will receive five textbooks to assist them in preparing for their National Senior Certificate examinations in 2011 and the remaining 1 percent will be delivered when translators have completed translating certain textbooks," Grant said.