1. The Western Cape Education Department (WCED) is committed to ensuring that all learners from Grades 1 to 12 have a textbook, aligned with Curriculum and Assessment Policy Statement (CAPS), for every subject in 2014.
2. Since the implementation of the CAPS, the Western Cape Education Department (WCED) has procured a textbook per learner for Grades 4 to 12.
3. The only textbooks which have not been centrally procured were those for Natural Sciences and Technology in Grades 4 to 6 and the textbooks for the following subjects for Grades 1 to 3: Home Language, First Additional Language, Life Skills and Mathematics. Schools were requested to use their Norms and Standards LTSM allocation to purchase these textbooks.
4. Schools that have not yet purchased textbooks for each of the four subjects in Grades 1 to 3 and for Natural Sciences and Technology in Grades 4 to 6, must order these textbooks on the online ordering facility on the CEMIS during the period 28 October to 1 November 2013.
5. Schools must select their textbooks from the abbreviated national catalogues for Grades 1 to 3 (Annexure A) and the Natural Sciences and Technology Grades 4 to 6 (Annexure B).

Ordering of Foundation Phase and Natural Science & Technology textbooks on the CEMIS

6. Prior to ordering, schools must compile an inventory of all the CAPS-aligned textbooks selected from the Foundation Phase national catalogue (sent to schools in Oct 2011) and purchased by the school. Schools will be required to capture these numbers on the online ordering site on the CEMIS.
7. Schools which have not yet purchased or who do not have sufficient textbooks to ensure that every Grade 1 to 3 learner has a CAPS-aligned textbook for each of the four subjects in the Foundation Phase and a Natural Sciences and Technology textbook for each Grade 4 to 6 learner, must capture their required textbook selection on the CEMIS online ordering site.
8. The WCED will pay 50% of the cost of each Grade 1 to 3 textbook ordered online. The remaining 50% of the cost will be deducted from the school’s Norms and Standards allocation for the 2014-15 financial year. The WCED will cover the total cost of Natural Sciences and Technology textbooks for Grades 4 to 6.
9. The projected learner enrolment per grade for 2014 will be used as a guide when ordering quantities of textbooks for schools.
10. The procedure to be followed when ordering these textbooks will be posted the CEMIS online ordering site during the ordering period.

Reimbursement for Grades 1 to 3 and Natural Sciences and Technology textbooks purchased by the school

11. Schools who have already purchased part or all of their required textbooks for Grades 1 to 3, will be reimbursed for 50% of the cost of these textbooks. Schools who have already ordered and paid for their Natural Sciences and Technology textbooks for Grades 4 to 6 will be reimbursed in full.
12. In order to qualify for the reimbursement, schools must indicate on the ordering site the number of textbooks purchased from school funds. In addition, schools must provide the following, via e-mail to ltsmprojects@westerncape.gov.za , by no later than Thursday, 31 October 2013:

  • A letter on the school’s letterhead stating which textbooks (subject, ISBN, title, publisher and quantity) the school has already ordered and paid for for Grades 1 to 3 and Grades 4 to 6 Natural Sciences and Technology
  • Scanned copies of the invoices or delivery notes, stamped and signed by the delegated staff member at the school

Reimbursements, in the form of transfer payments, will be paid into the school’s bank account by 30 April 2014.
13. To qualify for textbook purchase reimbursements, principals must ensure that all their textbook orders and/or their confirmation of textbooks purchased, are captured and signed off on CEMIS by 1 November 2013.
14. Kindly bring the content of this circular to the attention of all relevant personnel.


SIGNED: PA VINJEVOLD
HEAD: EDUCATION
DATE: 2013:09:27

Annexure A  (size: 81 KB)
Annexure B  (size: 35 KB)