The Council of Education Ministers (CEM) endorsed the new Foundation Phase school catalogue on September 18, allowing provinces to begin procuring books for the 2027 school year. The catalogue, valued at R1.6 billion, includes textbooks, learning, and teaching support materials for Grades 1 to 3. It features Home Language, First Additional Language, Mathematics, Life Skills, Coding, and Robotics. The updated catalogue aims to align with current curriculum needs and introduces coding and robotics for the first time.
The new catalogue was needed to replace a 15-year-old version and provides 40 readers per class and a Core Reader per learner. It reduces listed titles from eight to three for more focused teacher support, supporting foundational literacy and numeracy reforms. The catalogue saves around R3 billion compared to the previous R4.6 billion catalogue. The Department of Basic Education (DBE) announced that provinces could begin procuring books for 2027, but emphasized that identified deficiencies, including those involving publishers, still need to be rectified.
The catalogue was suspended in May after concerns over procurement and governance were raised. An investigation by Rakoma and Associates found procedural and governance weaknesses, including undisclosed pricing rules and non-compliance with supplier-document requirements. The investigation reports were shared confidentially with provincial education MECs. DBE Minister Siviwe Gwarube maintained the suspension pending legal advice from senior counsel, stressing that the findings did not amount to a finding of guilt.
The CEM's endorsement of the catalogue followed a "triple-layer review" involving the Auditor-General, an independent investigation, and internal and external legal opinions. The review found no fraud or favouritism, and therefore no basis to cancel the catalogue. Provinces are now empowered to use the latest catalogue, and procurement has commenced. However, procurement for the 2027 school year remains complex, and approvals may not be uniformly applied across provinces.
The DBE stated that all procuring authorities must satisfy themselves that their procurement is legally compliant. Provinces are facing a rush to verify compliance, place orders, ensure preparation, and distribution before schools reopen. Publishers must prepare the materials, and books must be distributed before schools reopen. The Western Cape Education Department has said it will not procure materials from the new catalogue for 2027, citing ongoing concerns.
Minister Gwarube's position is that the catalogue should be preserved by lawfully correcting its defects rather than discarding the entire process. Her office has said legal shortcomings must be addressed, including obtaining necessary authorizations for deviations and properly recording the reasons for them. The DBE has similarly stated that deficiencies, including those involving publishers, need to be rectified.
The stakes are particularly high for learners entering Grade 1 next year, as they will complete Grade 3 in 2029, just as South Africa approaches its 2030 foundational-learning targets. These targets aim to ensure that children develop basic literacy, numeracy, and other foundational skills by around the age of 10. The decision carries significant consequences for the publishing industry, with education publishing accounting for about 62% of industry revenue.
Key points
- The new Foundation Phase school catalogue has been approved for the 2027 school year, valued at R1.6 billion.
- Concerns remain over publisher deficiencies and legal compliance.
- The catalogue's implementation is crucial for learners entering Grade 1 next year, as it aims to support foundational literacy and numeracy reforms.
