Mpuma allocates R1.7m for school furniture

These plans are to ensure that all schools have enough furniture for both learners and educators.

"Teaching and learning must take place in all our schools without any hindrance and the lack of furniture is one of the aspects that creates challenges in the delivery of education.

"School furniture is a basic need and as a department we want to work around the clock to ensure that we address the shortage of furniture in all our schools," said Mpumalanga MEC for Education Reginah Mhaule.

According to Mhaule, there is R30 million budgeted for the procurement of school furniture in the next financial year, 2013/14.

"I would like to call upon educators, learners, parents and school communities to look after the furniture and safeguard it against vandalism and theft. Let's work together towards ensuring that the furniture in our schools remains in a very good condition," she said.

According to the department, there are schools that had received furniture some years ago but got damaged and needed to be replaced. Shortages of furniture in some schools were a result of the increase in the enrolment as compared to the previous years.

The department says addressing the shortages of school furniture is a priority. The four districts were encouraged to identify all the schools that are in dire need of furniture and ensure that they are in the list of schools to receive furniture by the end of March this year.

The districts have since responded to this directive and are on course in ensuring that all the identified schools receive their furniture by the end of March.

"As a department we will monitor the processes closely and we are convinced that the deliveries will be completed on time," Mhaule said.