#TextbooksMatter campaign launched

On 24 November, SECTION 27 will represent Basic Education for All (BEFA), a community based organisation whose members include learners, parents and educators in Limpopo, as it faces the Department of Basic Education over the provision of textbooks for children in Limpopo at the Bloemfontein Supreme Court of Appeal.

The case has huge implications for defining state duties to provide basic education. Practically, it could force the government to deliver millions more books to schools and on time. The right to basic education is an “unqualified right”. Ahead of the court hearing, BEFA kicked off the #TextbooksMatter campaign shining the spotlight the poor state of textbook delivery and the impact on the learners in Limpopo.

How you can participate

TextbooksMatter calls on South Africans to record a short message and share on social media why textbooks matter. Why do you believe every child has a right to his/her individual textbooks to take home, study from and have throughout the year? BEFA aims to create an Education Revolution on social media.

Some of the #TextbooksMatter highlights:

• A daily video from thought leaders, authors, activists, artists on the importance of textbooks. These include author Margie Orford, Njabulo Ndebele, Justice Malala and Achmat Dangor. Watch out for daily updates on Basic Education for All or follow @BEFA_SA

• A high-level Activist Dialogue at the school where it all started in 1976. We will host a discussion at Morris Isaacson High School in Soweto on Friday, 20 November 2015 at 16:00. There will also be an exhibition of photographs depicting in graphic detail the extent of textbook shortages on Limpopo learners and the impact on their lives.

• A community, learner, teacher and parent-led protest march in Giyani on 21 November 2015.

For more information, please contact:

Tebogo Sephakgamela (BEFA) – 079 606 5646 or via email: sephakgamela78@gmail.com Ngqabutho Mpofu (SECTION27) – 061 807 6443 or via email: mpofu@section27.org.za

Follow BEFA on Twitter: @BEFA_SA or on Facebook: Basic Education For All