12 Nov 2020

The Ministry of Basic Education continues to experience shortage of text books throughout the country including at Selebi Phikwe Senior Secondary School.

The Assistant Minister of Basic Education, Ms Nnaniki Makwinja, said this when answering a parliamentary question.

She said efforts continue to be made to address the shortages through annual procurement of books.

She said shortage of books was compounded by poor return of borrowed text books by completing pupils.

Assistant Minister Makwinja indicated that the percentages and extent of shortage by subject averaged 48.12 per cent and reflected the need based on all children having all recommended texts in a particular subject.

The department of curriculum development and evaluation, she said, recommended more than one text book for each subject, citing an example of three text books for History and six for Setswana.

She said Selebi Phikwe Senior Secondary School was provided with 3 300 Setswana books last year, but now needed a further 3 220 Setswana books in a school with just 1 472 pupils.

Ms Makwinja noted that the school would be encouraged to take better care of text books and ensure better recoveries from learners.

She pointed out that subjects that were badly affected were History, Business subjects, computer studies, Setswana, Mathematics, English Langauge, Religious Education and History.
In the financial year 2019/2020, she said her ministry had not allocated funds to the school but procured centrally.

The minister further said Selebi Phikwe Senior Secondary School received 4 200 text books covering Setswana, English and Mathematics. Ms Makwinja indicated that in 2020/2021 the school had been allocated P117 440 for it to procure textbooks for itself.

She explained that text books shortage was partly due to financial constraints, loss of books by learners and early wear and tear owing to poor care, adding that lost books were not being replaced by parents.

Shortage of books, she said results in students sharing which compromises teaching, learning and COVID-19 compliance. She said the ministry would continue to reprioritize its budget to the extent possible in order to increase textbooks across schools

Ms Makwinja further said they were in the process of developing e-content and procuring ICT gadgets to facilitate e-learning.

Member of Parliament for Selebi Phikwe West, Mr Dithapelo Keorapetse had asked the Minister to update Parliament on the extent of shortages of text books in Selebi-Phikwe Secondary School and to specifically state the percentage of shortage by percentage and by subjects.

He also requested the Minister to state subjects that were badly affected, amount of money budgeted/allocated to that school in the last and current financial years as well as to state the causes and effects of the shortage on teaching and learning.ENDS