The Department recently developed and released the National Catalogue for the Foundation Phase, Grades 1 – 3, which led to uncertainty regarding the Catalogue. This has been precipitated by several enquiries from the Publishers’ Associations and individual publishers about the status of the process.
Basic Education Minister, Ms Siviwe Gwarube said that: “The Foundation Phase is where the future of our education system is shaped and the quality of the Learning and Teaching Support Materials affect literacy, numeracy, and long-term education outcomes. Because the stakes are high, the process must be beyond reproach. I have escalated concerns to National Treasury as the custodian of public procurement for further scrutiny for responsible executive oversight cost and quality must be balanced in our constrained fiscal environment. In education, value must also include quality, suitability, language, pedagogy, and the professional development of those who must use these materials in classrooms. The Department must ensure that learners receive the required LTSM for the 2027 academic year, this objective cannot be lost and must be delivered upon to protect the future of the 13.7 million learners in our care”.
The Minister has since received a response from National Treasury, and the Department has appointed an independent firm to conduct a parallel investigation. In addition, the DBE Internal Audit line function has been engaged to investigate the matter, whilst the Auditor-General of South Africa (AGSA) is auditing the process.
A benchmarking exercise of catalogue development practices in the Southern African Region was also conducted in Botswana; Namibia; Zimbabwe; and Eswatini. It is important to recognise that in these countries catalogue development is not treated as a tender process. The Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET) also indicated that their Catalogue for Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) is not a tender process. The Foundation Phase Catalogue includes LTSM on Home Language; First Additional Language; Mathematics; Life Skills; and Coding and Robotics.
Basic Education Director-General, Mr Mathanzima Mweli, referred to the Letter of Deviation from Normal Bidding Process: National Catalogue Process from 2016/2017 Upwards by Treasury, adding that the process of the development of the Catalogue is led by experts in the field, many of whom are teachers and subject specialists by profession who have sharpened their knowledge and skills in the subjects and are selected from all nine provinces, placing quality at the forefront of the process. The DBE therefore remains committed to providing quality textbooks at reduced prices. The Department has communicated with provinces to proceed with the top-ups for Grades R, 4 to 12, whilst the Grades 1 to 3 is put in abeyance pending these oversight processes. HEDCOM resolved that it will not be prudent to procure items from the old catalogue, when the new catalogue will be available in due course. Post-catalogue steps will include the commencement of procurement around the end of July to September 2026 for the 2027 academic year.
Provincial Education Departments (PEDs) have been consulted and advised on the option for centralised procurement to leverage economies of scale. Previous experience indicates cost reduction by 50% through centralised procurement. Management of the PED procurement process is guided by the DBE’s LTSM Sector Plan, issued annually ahead of the commencement of the school calendar to guide them in procurement, delivery and timelines, and outlining key stages, roles and responsibilities and indicators.