learning

Pupils at the Tlotlang Thuto Middle School in Bona Bona, North West, are worried that they might not make it to the next grade - not because they are ill-prepared for the examinations - but because of the conditions under which they have to learn.

Some of them study in a partially covered classroom and the rest under trees, while others sit on broken chairs and stones.

After their school was destroyed by angry protestors in July 2012, on rainy days or when its dusty, they have to be sent home.

The United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) says that over 56 million young people in sub-Saharan Africa have not completed primary school and lack basic skills for employment.

According to a new report, the African leg of the United Nations Global Monitoring Report on Education, which was released by the UNESCO in Soweto, "In sub-Saharan Africa about 30 million [children] are still missing out on primary school and 22 million are out of secondary school, missing out on vital skills for future employment."

The Department of Basic Education director-general, Bobby Soobrayan, has blamed budgetary constraints and pupil data problems for the department's failures.

Responding to calls for him to be investigated by the Public Service Commission over the textbooks saga in Limpopo, Soobrayan is happy that the matter has been referred to the commission, which will give him an opportunity to respond to whatever allegations have been made.

The National Association of School Governing Bodies (NASGB) and rights organisation, SECTION27, have told school governing bodies it is their right to govern schools and speak out against problems they face.

NASGB secretary-general, Matakanye Matakanye, has been quoted as saying that, "Some school governing bodies could not come to the workshop because they were told by principals, 'if you speak out about problems you will not be recognised as school governing bodies'."

The Department of Basic Education has no regard for the law, according to Judge Jody Kollapen.

Kollapen ordered the department to complete all outstanding deliveries for the current school year by 12 October and report to the court on 17 October 2012.

His ruling follows a case in which human rights organisation, SECTION27, again took the department to court for failing to deliver all books for Limpopo pupils.

Human rights lawyer, George Bizos, says it is unforgivable that some public schools are without crucial textbooks while others have no libraries and computers.

Bizos, who represented former president Nelson Mandela and other freedom fighters against prosecution under apartheid, argues that the provincial and local tiers of government are failing South Africa as they often do not spend available funds meant for education facilities and other crucial infrastructure.

SECTION27 has filed papers at the North Gauteng High Court after it emerged that hundreds of Limpopo pupils are still without textbooks and are also facing an inadequate departmental catch-up plan.

The organisation decided to go back to court after the basic education department failed to comply with two court orders forcing it to deliver textbooks to Limpopo schools that had been without books since the beginning of the school year.

The first school library to be funded by the 466/64 Fashion Brand has been donated to the Parkdene Primary School in Kraaifontein near Cape Town, as part of the Mandela Day Libraries Project, which began in 2011.

Among those who attended the handover ceremony were musician Lira and representatives of several companies involved in the project, including Breadline Africa and the Nelson Mandela Centre of Memory.

A total of 13 established libraries in primary schools throughout South Africa is the target, this kicked off with two new container libraries in August 2012.