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The Democratic Alliance said the Eastern Cape Education Department was “desperately” ill-prepared for the opening of schools next week.
MPL, Yusuf Cassim, said a report presented to the Education Portfolio Committee on Thursday, revealed that only 63% of schools have received their textbooks and grade reader deliveries, with around 20% of schools still awaiting the delivery of their workbooks.
He said the report further revealed that 610 schools in the province are without school principals, and 607 schools still do not have sufficient teachers appointed.
Cassim said it was inconceivable that these critical vacancies have not been filled, or that textbooks have still not been delivered.
“It is also shocking that no provision has been made to resolve the lack of sanitation facilities at the 1 598 schools identified last year,” he added.
Meanwhile, the opposition party said that the report to the Portfolio Committee had further revealed that 37 247 Eastern Cape learners, who previously received assistance to get to school, would now be stranded at home with no transport, because of budget cuts.
