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The Department of Basic Education has called on schools to consider being no-fee institutions. Eighty percent of public schools have implemented the policy and the department is now calling on more schools to join in. 

Department spokesperson Panyaza Lesufi says they are quite impressed with the outcome of the programme. 

“We had given ourselves a target of 60% by 2014 and we are sitting at 80%. For us the no-fee paying policy has yielded the necessary dividends. We still call upon other schools be part of no-fee paying school that can also accept that it will be in the best interest of all learners if they are given access to no-fee paying schools.”

The Department also says it’s all systems go for the new school year adding that at least 98% of textbooks have already been delivered to inland schools. Textbooks and stationery have also been delivered in Limpopo, where problems were experienced last year. 

Meanwhile, Human Rights organisation Section 27 has not ruled out approaching the courts again if they find that learners are being short changed regarding textbook supply. 

The organisation took the Minister of Basic Education, Angie Motshega, to court last year after learners in four grades in Limpopo did not receive textbooks at the beginning of the year.

Attorney Nikkie Steyn says the organisation will be monitoring school readiness. “We, together with four other legal organisations working on the right to education will be monitoring the delivery of textbooks and workbooks to all of the provinces all over the country to make sure that a similar crisis to what happened in Limpopo are avoided and that all learners across the country have got the books they need.”

Motshekga and Deputy President Kgalema Motlanthe will visit a number of inland province schools today. Coastal schools will open their gates next week.