Bhisho Education Department issues new guidelines on Learner Teacher support material

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The Legal Resource Centre in Grahamstown says the Eastern Cape Education Department has done an about turn on the issue of Learner Teacher Support Material for schools.

In a circular to schools following a meeting on Tuesday, the Eastern Cape Education Department said that the central procurement of textbooks for Section 20 schools will go ahead.

It also says that the procurement of textbooks for Section 21 schools who opted for centralised procurement will go ahead while those Section 21 schools who chose not to, will be paid the monies which had been withheld from the first payment tranche.

"All schools are reminded of their responsibility to ensure that textbooks are delivered to schools to be distributed to learners by the first school day of the 2013 academic year," the circular stated.

The circular states that schools procuring textbooks individually "are responsible and should budget for the delivery and transport of such textbooks."

"Schools are requested to communicate their choice of individual or central procurement of textbooks as a matter of urgency by no later than the 21 September to facilitate central ordering and or payment of LTSM monies forthwith."

LRC attorney Cameron McConachie, says they still believe that it is incorrect in law and contrary to the provisions of the Schools Act to make schools opt out of the process, as opposed to giving them the opportunity to opt in.

However, he says he hopes that the notice will reach the School Governing Bodies of all affected schools in the province and that they exercise their choice.