Minister Motshekga must explain failure to comply with textbook court order

An investigation by the Democratic Alliance (DA) has revealed that at least four schools in Limpopo are still without textbooks. 

This is despite the High Court ruling which ordered Minister of Basic Education Angie Motshekga to ensure that textbooks were delivered to Limpopo schools by Friday 15 June. The Minister's department continues to drag its feet, while our education system is on its knees. 

The schools identified by the DA that are still without textbooks are:

• Mponegele Primary School (Seshego)
• Lotang Primary School (Seshego)
• Serutle Secondary School (Lepelle Nkumpi Municipality)
• Tubake Secondary School in Lepelle Nkumpi Municipality)

There is no doubt that many other schools in the province are still without textbooks.

I will today be writing to the Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on Basic Education, Hope Malgas, to request that Minister Motshekga appears before an urgent meeting of the committee to explain her Department's failure to meet the court's requirements. 

The Minister said her department would meet the court deadline of delivering the textbooks to Limpopo schools by 15 June. She is now in contempt of the court order.

It is ironic that as we commemorate Youth Day - when the students of Soweto rose up against the violation of their rights - that rights of learners are being undermined by government's failure to deliver. 

Government should be doing all it can to ensure learners can access the best quality education possible. Access to a quality education is an essential pre-requisite to ensure that South Africa's youth can enter the job market and secure their future. 

If we cannot offer all our children a quality education, the number of unemployed young South Africans - currently at 3.2 million - will continue to grow. Minister Motshekga has some explaining to do. 

Statement issued by Annette Lovemore MP, DA Shadow Minister of Basic Education, June 18 2012

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