The norms and standards (N&S) allocation for your Section 21 school for the financial year extending from 1 April 2015 to 31 March 2016 is available on the CEMIS and can be accessed in the following way:

• Log on to the CEMIS.
• Select "Public Ordinary".
• Select your school.
• Click "Proceed". Point to the "Administration" menu item and click on "Norms and Standards Allocation ". Select "N&S 2015".
• Print the page.

Your attention is drawn to the following:

Schools will receive their N&S allocation for the 2015/16 financial year in two instalments, namely 60% in April-May 2015 and 40% in November 2015. Section 21 schools must use their first transfer payment (60%), which will be made during April-May 2015, to purchase their 2016 learning and teaching support material (LTSM) so that it is available before the end of September 2015, and to pay for other expenses, as stipulated in paragraph 3.1 below. The second transfer payment (40%), which will be made during November 2015, must be used to cover appropriate school-related expenses up to the end of the State's financial year, i.e. 31 March 2016.

20% of the total N&S allocation that is paid over in April-May 2015 (see paragraph 2.1 above) must be reserved for expenditure previously covered by school fees. Schools will be informed of this amount in the N&S allocation letter. It must be borne in mind that this amount must sustain the school until April 2016, when payment will be received for the next financial year.

It is suggested that for 2015/16 schools divide their available allocation as follows among the various expenditure categories:

• 30% for LTSM orders for 2016, of which 10% should be targeted for library material (Each learner must have a textbook for each subject. The stock of school library material should be augmented annually until the total number of items reflects the minimum international standard of 10 items per learner. See paragraph 3.1.1 below for the list of items included under LTSM.);
• 25% for municipal services (However, schools should budget for a larger percentage if expenditure tendencies necessitate this.);
• 25% for maintenance; and
• 20% for local purchases.

1. The Department of Basic Education (DBE) defines LTSM as any material that supports and facilitates teaching and learning directly in the classroom or at home (homework). It includes the following:
   • Textbooks, readers, reference books, prescribed works, atlases and dictionaries;
   • Workbooks;
   • Posters, maps and wall charts;
   • Educational board games;
   • Library material (fiction and non-fiction), reference books, posters, and recordings on videos, DVDs, audio cassettes, CDs, CD-ROMs, multi-media, etc.;
   • Computer software and licensing; and
   • Resource material for teachers, learners, classroom and library.

2. Schools are required to use their full LTSM allocation to purchase LTSM that will enrich and strengthen the implementation of the Curriculum and Assessment Policy Statements (CAPS) in their classes. Schools are therefore encouraged to use their LTSM allocation to purchase supplementary textbooks, prescribed works, atlases, dictionaries, workbooks, posters, maps, wall charts, educational board games, library material (fiction and non-fiction), reference books, recorded videos, DVDs, audio cassettes, CDs, CD-ROMs, computer software, consumer studies and hospitality studies and science laboratory equipment.

3. Subject to the following conditions, schools may assign less money to LTSM if:
   • each learner in the school has a textbook for each subject and access to other LTSM resources;
   • the school has annually allocated 10% of the LTSM allocation for the purchasing of library material to augment the library stock and the total number of items in the library stock now constitutes the minimum international standard of 10 items per learner; and
   • the governing body has taken a formal decision regarding this deviation (This decision of the governing body regarding the budget, which must be submitted at a parents' meeting, must be explained and the amount spent per learner on LTSM must be provided. This decision must be put before the parents' meeting, whether the IMG manager supports it or not.).

4. How to obtain LTSM:
   • Section 21 schools must obtain competitive quotations in placing their LTSM orders with suppliers of LTSM, where applicable, or submit their requests online via the CEMIS when required;
   • When ordering additional LTSM, schools must select all CAPS textbooks from the approved national catalogues (refer to approved national catalogues that are available on the WCED website at http://wcedonline.pgwc.gov/branch/LTSM/index.html);
   • Prescribed literature for Grades 10 to 12 for 2015 must be selected from the recommended prescribed books list circulated to schools. A new prescribed literature catalogue for FET will be available in 2015 for use in 2016; and
   • For assistance in selecting school library material, schools should contact Ms Theresa de Young, the EDULIS Co-ordinator: School Library Services at tel. 021 957 9638. The district school library adviser and/or resource centre co-ordinator can also be contacted regarding the development of school libraries.

1. The N&S allocation to schools is intended for the payment of, amongst others, schools' monthly municipal services accounts, which includes electricity, water, sewage and refuse removal (availability and usage charges), but excludes the payment of property tax. As in the past, the State will pay the property tax on property registered in the name of the Republic of South Africa (RSA).

2. Schools must still implement, amongst others, the savings measures indicated in Annexure A.

3. ESKOM and most municipalities have indicated they can make prepaid electricity meters available to schools. This will enable schools to better control their electricity consumption. Schools must contact either Eskom or their local municipality, as applicable, should they want to have prepaid electricity meters installed.

4. Where it is established that schools are not settling their municipal service accounts, the WCED reserves the right to withhold funds from the N&S allocation to pay outstanding municipal service accounts on behalf of the school concerned.

1. Day-to-day maintenance applies to the maintenance of grounds, cleaning, renovations, repairs and/or replacement of parts of school buildings. Regular maintenance must be carried out to prevent the deterioration of school buildings and emergency repairs resulting from neglect.

2. Where the N&S allocation for day-to-day maintenance is insufficient, schools are expected to supplement the allocation from their own school funds, where necessary. Schools must budget for their day-to-day maintenance repairs in accordance with the condition of the school building and grounds. Schools should set aside a budget amount from their annual day-to-day maintenance allocation for the maintenance of equipment used to enhance the appearance of the school grounds, e.g. servicing the lawnmower, purchasing paint for benches on the school grounds, and purchasing lime and fertiliser.

3. N&S allocations may not be used for day-to-day repairs to hostels. Such repairs should be funded from the learners' boarding fees and bursaries.

In terms of paragraph 97 of the NNSSF, the WCED accepts responsibility for major emergency repairs to buildings, subject to the availability of funds budgeted for such eventualities. The following repairs will be considered according to the procedures in Circular 175/2000:

In terms of Section 36(1) of the South African Schools Act (SASA), 1996 (Act 84 of 1996), school governing bodies (SGBs) must take all reasonable steps to supplement the resources supplied by the State in order to improve the quality of education provided by the school to all learners at the school. Although no-fee schools may not charge compulsory school fees (including registration fees), they are encouraged to seek voluntary contributions and engage in fundraising activities

The WCED will review all schools’ learner enrolments with the 2015 10th Day Survey. Final allocation letters will be published on the CEMIS by 31 March 2015.

All outstanding WCED 043 forms for Section 21 schools must be submitted on or before Friday, 27 February 2015, to prevent forfeiture of unpaid funds.