Thousands of learners are without textbooks in Mpumalanga

24 October 2018

The Democratic Alliance (DA) in Mpumalanga, accompanied by DA Shadow Minister of Basic Education, Nomsa Marchesi MP, has today lodged a complaint with the South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) over the severe shortage of textbooks in Mpumalanga schools.

In its annual report for the 2017/18 financial year, the provincial Department of Education stated that 63% of learners had been provided with the required textbooks in all grades and in all subjects during this period.

The Auditor-General (A-G) however found this to be false because only 31.26% of learners had been provided with the required textbooks. This means that 68.74% or 679 837 learners in Mpumalanga did not have all the required textbooks in the 2017/18 financial year.

By not ensuring that every single learner in Mpumalanga has enough textbooks, education MEC, Sibusiso Malaza is violating thousands of learners’ right to education as this basic human right goes hand in hand with the provision of textbooks.

The A-G also found that a mere 33.45% of learners complete the annual curriculum although the Department placed this figure at 50%. With only 31% of learners having the required textbooks, it comes as no surprise that only 33% complete their annual curriculum.

The Education Department has truly abandoned learners in Mpumalanga as not only do are they have to contend with unsafe school structures and inadequate sanitation facilities, they also have to limited access to textbooks.

While the SAHRC investigates this gross violation of learners’ rights, we will continue to monitor the provision of textbooks in Mpumalanga schools to ensure that no learner is left behind in our mission to build One South Africa For All.

Issued by Jane Sithole, DA Mpumalanga Premier Candidate, 24 October 2018