The Minister of Basic Education Mrs Angie Motshekga will be hosting a Learning and Teaching Support Material (LTSM) Roundtable on Wednesday 01^st April 2015. The aim of the roundtable is to, among other discussions, deliberate the misconception regarding the provisioning of one core textbook for learners in public schools.

The discussions will feature the Minister of Basic Education as the keynote speaker, the LTSM ministerial task team members and other stakeholders. The reasons for DBE to assume the development of catalogues role will also form part of the discussions including the roles of Provincial Education Departments (PED), district managers and schools in this regard.

The development of catalogues has been in the past, the responsibility of Provincial Education Departments (PEDs) and this proved costly and created inequalities amongst provinces and therefore there was no uniformity until a decision the DBE resumed the development of catalogues.

Over and above the provision of one core textbook, the department is striving towards ensuring that there are enough supplementary and reference material to support the learner.  The DBE will develop a catalogue for supplementary and reference material.

Members of the media are invited to attend and cover the roundtable which will be held on the 1st of April 2015, at 222 Struben Street, Conference centre, Room B, Pretoria. There will be an opportunity to interview the stakeholders and participants throughout the roundtable.

Enquiries and interview requests: Ms Matjatjie Magagane: 076 462 4067

ISSUED BY DEPARTMENT OF BASIC EDUCATION