NATIONAL COUNCIL OF PROVINCES
FOR WRITTEN REPLY
QUESTION 470
DATE OF PUBLICATION OF INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER: 31/08/2012
(INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER: 24/2012)
Mr H B Groenewald (DA-NW) to ask the Minister of Basic Education:
1) Whether all public schools in the North West have received all (a)
textbooks and (b) workbooks for all grades for the 2012 academic
year; if not, (i) why not, (ii) which (aa) schools, (bb) regions
and (cc) grades have the books not been and/or been partially
delivered; if so, how was this conclusion reached;
2) Which (a) publishers and (b) companies were appointed for the delivery
of all (i) textbooks and (ii) workbooks for all grades in the North West?
CW575E
REPLY:
1) Whether all public schools in the North West have received all
a) Textbooks
For 2012 academic year, DBE supplied only two textbooks as part of a
programme to strengthen public schools. The textbooks supplied were
for two subjects for the grades 10-12 classes:
⢠Grades 10 Mathematics and Physical Sciences (in English and
Afrikaans); and
⢠Grades 11-12 Mathematics and Physical Sciences (in English only).
The total number of 353 schools received the Mathematics and Physical
Science textbooks. The breakdown per district is indicated on the
attached spreadsheet. Only schools that were identified to be offering
the two subjects were supplied with the textbooks. All other Learner
Teacher Support Material (LTSM) was supplied by the Provincial
Education Department, details in respect of the delivery of these LTSM
are provided in the spreadsheet enclosed as Annexure A.
(b) Workbooks
According to our records 1502 schools in the North West received
workbooks, supplied by the DBE. The total number of workbooks sent to
schools in the North West is 3 347Â 895. The grades and subjects
that were provided with workbooks are:
⢠Grades R
⢠Grades 1- 6 Literacy/languages (in the home languages)
⢠Grades 1-3 Life skills (in the Language for Learning and Teaching).
⢠Grades 1-9 Numeracy/Mathematics
⢠Grades 1-6 First Additional Languages(English)
(i)(ii) Schools were advised to report shortages or non delivery to their
respective district offices. Additional workbooks were delivered to the
district offices in order to cater for the shortages. In addition,
district offices were advised to report the need for extra workbooks to DBE
offices so that the delivery could be made to the district offices.
District offices that reported the need for extra workbooks arrangement was
made that they receive them according to their request. To date, DBE is not
aware of shortages that the North West Province is experiencing. If North
West Province, report shortages to DBE, arrangement will be made for the
province to receive the workbooks and textbooks.
(bb)(cc) The spreadsheet attached provides the information on the breakdown
of the deliveries per district. Additional workbooks were delivered to the
district offices in order to cater for the shortages.
2) Which (a) publishers and (b) companies were appointed for the delivery
of all
a) Publishers (i) and (ii) textbooks
A list of publishers appointed by the province for the procurement of
textbooks is reflected on the attached spreadsheet as Annexure B.
b) Companies appointed (ii) workbooks.
For 2012 academic year, The Department of Basic Education appointed a
consortium of Lebone and Paarl Media for printing and delivery of
workbooks.
GENERAL
Except for Workbooks, the National Department is not responsible for
textbooks and the question should be referred to the relevant province.