The Western Cape Education Department (WCED) activated its online ordering system for textbook procurement yesterday, to ensure textbook orders are delivered to schools on time for the start of the 2014 school year.
The online ordering system was first piloted in 2011 and was successfully launched in all schools in the province last year. According to a statement released by the department, the electronic system was implemented to increase the efficiency of the textbook procurement process, allowing the WCED to monitor textbook orders, deliveries and shortages.
The Western Cape is the only province in the country with such an online ordering facility.
The system also offers schools a choice of textbooks from the national catalogues of CAPS-approved textbooks, while also making it as easy as possible to place orders online.
According to Western Cape education minister Donald Grant, the WCED arranged for textbook exhibitions in each education district in May, to assist educators to make informed decisions about the textbooks they wish to order for the 2014 school year,
"At the exhibitions, all the CAPS-aligned textbooks that are included in the catalogues for 2014 were on display, giving educators, specifically subject heads, the opportunity to determine which books are most suitable in enhancing the delivery of the curriculum in their classrooms."
Schools have received a notice on how the procurement process for 2014 will be administered, with the relevant dates, deadlines and processes.
Over R277 million has already been invested in the first two stages of the project, with the final stage set to cost an additional R175.8 million.
"The total cost is R452.8 million over a three-year period. This is over and above the textbook component of the per capita norms and standards funding supplied to all the schools," says Grant. "Altogether, this is a very substantial investment, but it is certainly worth it in supporting our teachers and learners in the delivery of the curriculum."
Grant appealed to schools to adhere to deadlines set by the WCED, as this will ensure textbooks ordered are delivered to schools by November.
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