Learners at the Emshukantambo Secondary school in Pimville, Soweto, have come forward and claimed that they were told to bring two packs of white copy paper or they will not receive textbooks. And the principal was specific, he wanted the Typek brand.

STATIONERY LIST

A mother who only wanted to be identified as Angie, fearing her two kids at the school will be victimised, told ZiMoja that they received the stationery list that included two packs of white papers per learner. "I must buy a pack of four and that's R280, there's still other stationery items that need to be bought. I am unemployed and don't have money now, how am I going to afford them, " the mother asked. She said her last born is in primary school and she also needs to buy her stationery including the copy papers. Angie said that when her kids told the school principal that she didn't have money to buy the papers, they were told it was impossible because they were receiving a Sassa grant.

TRADING TEXTBOOKS FOR PHOTOCOPY PAPER

Her daughter that's in grade 12 said they were told that it will be like a trade, two packs for textbooks. "Those who have brought the papers got their textbooks as for us we will have to go on like this until our parents can afford to buy the papers. It's sad because they don't even want us to share the textbooks with other kids during class. We can only refer the books after school. My biggest fear is being left behind and missing out on important work, but I'll do my best or even ask to make copies of the sections covered after school," she said. Another parent who has a son in grade 11 says she asked herself what the school wanted to do with such a huge number of copy papers. "The school has hundreds of learners, and they are all required to bring the papers? what are they going to do with it while they also get a budget from the department?" a parent asked. "We will have to wait for month end to get the grant money and buy the papers."

NOT ALLOWED

Department of Education spokesman in Gauteng, Steve Mabona said it is not allowed for children to be deprived of textbooks that were brought to the school by the government."With the issue of Typek, one would find that it was an agreement that was made between the parents and the school, and it is the school that knows how the papers will be used, but they can't make unreasonable demands." The principal of the school Takalani Stephen dismissed claims that parents were forced to buy Typek. He said this was discussed during their annual general meeting that parents who can, should donate the papers to the school. "Parents like personalising things, we had a meeting with them, and majority of the parents donated the papers as per agreement, no one was forced. We are still in the process of handing out textbooks, but we will be done by the end of the week," Stephen added.