SADTU Free State condemns the abrupt stoppage of LTSM Allocations to Schools in Free State
The South African Democratic Teachers’ Union (SADTU) in the Free State notes with grave concern the sudden halt of allocation of Learning and Teaching Support Material (LTSM) to schools across the province.
The Learning and Teaching Support Material (LTSM) including textbooks, stationery, and other essential resources forms the backbone of quality teaching and learning. The abrupt stoppage has immediate and far-reaching consequences for learners, educators, and the broader schooling community.
The stoppage undermines constitutional and legislative obligations to provide learners with access to basic education as enshrined in Section 29 of the Constitution. It furthermore undermines the Section 14 of Bela Act 32 of 2024 which indicates that the “HOD may, in consultation with the Governing Body, centrally procure identified learning and teaching support material for public schools on the basis of efficient, effective and economic utilisation of public fund or uniform norms and standards”. In this case the Governing Bodies were not consulted when such a decision was taken.
Whilst noting the Department’s communique issued to schools on 12/05/2026 and to schools previously, we hold a view that the department should not use a blanket approach in dealing with issues of non-compliance. The decision by the department of education has crippled schools that have huge debts to settle after service providers would have delivered and now waiting for payments.
We call for the immediate restoration of funds considering that schools have long budgeted for these line items in their indicative budgets.
The Union remains committed to quality teaching and learning, hence the call for an urgent meeting with both the MEC and HOD.
ISSUED BY PROVINCIAL SECRETARIAT