Two months into the school year, Tantyi Lower Primary School, St Mary's Primary School and MC Cewu Higher Primary School have still not received stationery supplies.
Two months into the school year, Tantyi Lower Primary School, St Mary's Primary School and MC Cewu Higher Primary School have still not received stationery supplies.
As they are Section 20 schools, the provincial Department of Education is responsible for providing their stationery. Grocott's Mail was alerted to their plight by a desperate plea for donations placed on the Grahamstown Parents' Network – a group that receives weekly emails on matters and local events relevant to parents.
Literacy project co-ordinator at Gadra, Kelly Long, was asking the group to consider donating basic stationery supplies to Tantyi Lower Primary School. The teachers at the school refused to discuss the matter, however, because they said they had been asked by the Department of Education not to speak to the media.
One said the department was trying to help them and that, while she didn't know when the stationery would arrive, talking to the media would only interfere with its delivery.
The pupils were more willing to speak and, when a group of about 15 Tantyi pupils were asked who knew that the government was supposed to provide them with basic stationery, only half raised their hands. A Grade 5 pupil, Aphelele Veto, said although he brought his own stationery from home, not all of his classmates' families could afford this.
Aphelele said some of the children who had stationery shared with their less fortunate classmates when it came to doing writing exercises: "We just give it to them, they write and give it back to us".
Literacy project co-ordinator at Gadra, Kelly Long, who placed the request on the Grahamstown Parents' Network said the children were trying to learn with very few resources: "No workbooks, very few pencils – usually one to every three children – and very few other resources such as crayons, glue, scissors, rulers, games, puzzles etc."
Since the request was made, St Andrew's College has donated workbooks and crayons to the Tantyi Lower Primary School, but Long said there had not yet been any donations towards meeting the intermediate grades' requirements.
After irregularities discovered in the stationery tender, the Bhisho High Court recently suspended the contract.The provincial education department spokesperson says the company to receive the tender will be announced only once the head of department has approved one of the companies selected by the bid committee.
Donations, especially pencils and soft-cover, lined, A4 workbooks, can be dropped at the Gadra Education office (in the Old Gaol building on Somerset Street). Or call Kelly Long at 072 823 4877 or email kelly@itbsoftware.co.za to make arrangements.
