Pretoria - The Department of Basic Education says it will approach the Press Council regarding the weekend report in the City Press that some schools in Limpopo still do not have textbooks.
The department has refuted claims by the newspaper, saying the reporter ignored proof provided to him by the department regarding the delivery of textbooks.
According to the department, comments attributed to the department were “false, economical with the truth and grossly misrepresented”, with specific reference to claims that the department said there was nothing it could do about the situation and that learners would just have to share textbooks until 2014.
“The department is on record as saying that schools in Limpopo, unlike last year, had indeed received their textbooks for this academic year. The shortages that were reported earlier this year have been attended to through the department’s district offices,” said the department in a statement on Monday.
“We thus call on City Press to retract their story as it contains false information and thus the story is misleading,” the department said.
The department also addressed claims made regarding school principals in Limpopo.
“It has become a common misconception that principals of several schools refuse to give their names because the department ‘comes down hard on anyone who speaks to the media about non delivery of textbooks.’
“The department refutes the claim and finds such claims extremely disturbing, considering that it was the Limpopo Department of Education that issued a circular requesting schools to report any shortages so that the matter could be addressed. To date, only a few schools have responded.
“The department will continue to address any shortages reported by schools and welcomes all information to adequately deal with the matter,” it said.
The national department provided Grade 4 - 6 Natural Science and Technology workbooks for all learners due to non-availability of quality CAPS approved textbooks for the subject from publishers. These were approved through a screening process, which recommended that the books were suitable for use by learners. – SAnews.gov.za
