12/01/2023
The Department has noted with concern reports that schools are forcing parents to buy extra stationery to top up on the departmentally issued Learning and Teaching Support ( LTSM) Packs.
The stationery allocated to schools is within the nationally prescribed norms and standards as set by the Department of Basic Education and is ample to cater for all subjects offered in our No Fee Schools in the Province.
This is done such that there will be no need to augment it.
To this end, all No Fee Schools’ Principals are therefore advised to utilise the departmentally allocated stationery.
There must be no instance where undue pressure, financially or otherwise is put on parents and learners to buy extra stationery material such that it cost them an arm or a leg.
The allocated stationery would suffice to cater for all educational needs as advised by curriculum experts and schools are hence advised not to punish or disadvantage parents and learners in this regard but to co-operate with the contents of this circular.
Equally, principals must make it their obligation to ensure that the allocated LTSM is given to all learners.
This means that at no stage must stationery be withheld from learners.
The Department extends its best wishes to all schools for the 2023 school year and beyond.
