1. Circular 51/2007 of 20 September 2007 instructed non-Section 21 schools to submit their requisition forms for LTSM (WCED 034) and Local purchases (WCED 026) by 26 April 2008.
2. All main orders for LTSM and local purchases were placed with suppliers by 31 July 2008 and are currently being delivered to schools.
3. Section 21 schools were instructed to use the first 60% of their norms and standards payment received in April 2008 to purchase their learning and teaching support material so that it could be available before the end of September 2008.
4. The Western Cape Education Department (WCED) must submit regular reports to the national Department of Education on the use of the total norms and standards allocation for LTSM. It is therefore imperative that schools spend the amounts budgeted for LTSM by no later than 31 October 2008.
5. Non-Section 21 schools can ascertain their current balances for LTSM and local purchases from the Kuils River order office. Due to the time it takes to turn requisitions into orders, requisitions (WCED 034 and 026) must be submitted to the Kuils River order office by no later than 30 September 2008 to ensure that LTSM and stationery is delivered to schools by the first school day of 2009.
6. The national Department of Education (DoE) defines LTSM as any material that supports and facilitates teaching and learning. Schools are therefore encouraged to use their LTSM allocation for the purchase of textbooks, workbooks, charts, prescribed works, dictionaries, atlases, library and reference materials, pre-recorded CDs, DVDs, computer software and teachers' resource materials.
7. Your co-operation in the above regard will be appreciated.


SIGNED: LN SOPOTELA
HEAD: EDUCATION
DATE: 2008:09:12