1. As stated in Circular S8 of 2016, the Department of Basic Education (DBE) will print and distribute workbooks to all public schools (ordinary and special) in the Western Cape for the 2018 school calendar year.
1.1 The following books will be delivered directly to schools:

  1. Grade R workbooks;
  2. Grades 1 to 6 Home Languages;
  3. Grades 1 to 3 Mathematics in the language of learning and teaching (LoLT);
  4. Grades 4 to 9 Mathematics in English and Afrikaans;
  5. Grades 1 to 6 First Additional Language in English; and
  6. Grades 1 to 3 Life Skills (for quintiles 1 to 3 schools only).
1.2 Volume 1 for 2018 (Terms 1 and 2) and Grade R will be delivered to all schools by 29 September 2017.
1.3 Volume 2 for 2018 (Terms 3 and 4) and Life Skills for quintiles 1 to 3 will be delivered to all schools by 30 November 2017.
1.4 According to DBE Circular S6 of 2017, Grade 1 to 3 Life Skills workbooks will be printed and delivered to quintile 1 to 3 schools.

2. During March 2017 the Western Cape Education Department (WCED) was required to provide the DBE with projected learner numbers for workbooks to be printed and delivered for 2018. The learner numbers provided to the DBE were based on the relevant CEMIS information available at the time.

3. The number of workbooks to be delivered to each school corresponds to the learner numbers provided to the DBE by the WCED. The number of workbooks per grade that schools can expect to be delivered by the DBE can be viewed on the Learning and Teaching Support Material (CAPS textbooks) webpage on the WCED website (the website address is http://wcedonline.pgwc.gov.za/branchPS/LTSM/index.html).

4. A guideline document outlining the procedure prior to and during the delivery of the workbooks is attached to this circular as Annexure A.

5. When the workbooks are delivered by the DBE service provider, schools are expected to compare the number of workbooks delivered with the numbers provided on the abovementioned website. Any deliveries in incorrect languages or any shortages must be indicated on the proof of delivery (POD) and taken up with the service provider that delivered the workbooks on behalf of the DBE.

6. The DBE uploads the PODs of each school onto http://www.schoolmaster.org.za and schools and districts are encouraged to access this website to verify delivery details. The school’s EMIS number can be used to log on to the website.

7. During October 2017, all schools to which workbooks were delivered will be required to access CEMIS to capture the projected learner numbers for 2018 and the actual number of workbooks per subject per grade received from the DBE. In the process, shortages and surpluses will be identified and communicated to the districts. The report will be available at EduInfoSearch.

8. Relevant district officials will be responsible for facilitating the distribution of workbooks identified as shortages.

9. Kindly bring the contents of this circular to the attention of all relevant personnel.


SIGNED: BK SCHREUDER
HEAD: EDUCATION
DATE: 2017:08:09

Annexure A: Guidelines for the receipt of Grade R–9 workbooks for the 2018 school year  (size: 65 KB)
Annexure B: Workbook recording template  (size: 94 KB)