Pupils are still short of textbooks. E.g. one textbook, SPOT ONE NATURAL SCIENCES AND TECHNOLOGY, Grade 5, is nowhere to be found. To our understanding, the reason is, the DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION, failed to authorise the textbook as being suitable for the curriculum which they prescribe. Not only that, but they also neglected to recommend an alternative.
We are sure that it is not only the Grade 5's being affected by this. A parent, managed to obtain a list of books not authorised to date, for different grades!!
So, from text books being discarded last year, we go to textbooks not authorised.
Communication, with Dept of Education, Gauteng has been to no avail.
As the text book has not been authorised by the Dept. of Education at all, it seems there are no printed copies available, other than the original "example copies", this is according to the publishers, Heinemann's in the Cape.
According to telephonic conversations with the Dept of Education, they confirmed that the text book has not been authorised for the 2013 curriculum and are busy investigating as to where the break down is.
Dept. Of Education contacted: anisa.defreitas@gauteng.gov.za; 011 355 0000 feroze.shaik@gauteng.gov.za; 011 355 0145