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This morning I visited Eldomaine high school in Eldorado park, south of Johannesburg and found that grades 8, 9 and 11 have to share forty textbooks. Learners are also unable to take the books home.

This is unacceptable. Every learner must have his/her own textbook to ensure that they are able to use the textbook for their homework and home studies.

I have also found that Somelulwazi primary school in Freedom Park has no Sesotho workbooks. This situation is further burdened by overcrowding where classes have about 55 learners per class. It is against the learner - educator ratio.

The failure to ensure that all Gauteng schools have the necessary work and textbooks negatively impacts on the studies of learners and their academic future.

I have already submitted questions to Gauteng Education MEC Barbara Creecy to establish the extent of textbook and workbook chaos in the province. I have also written to her requesting that all workbooks be delivered in the province as a matter of urgency.

It is alleged that EduSolutions supplied the reading materials for grades 1,2 and 3 to Gauteng secondary schools. The reply from the MEC is expected next week which should confirm if EduSolutions is still the supplier of textbooks in Gauteng.

We cannot afford to gamble with the future of our children by neglecting their basic educational needs such as work- and textbooks.