The procurement of textbooks for public schools has been centralised from 2012 onwards, with the intention to ensure that all schools get their textbooks on time. Up to 2012 schools could buy textbooks directly from suppliers. Schools will now have to select textbooks from a catalogue (compiled by the National Department of Education) and place orders with the provincial department. The provincial department consolidates orders from schools and sends the consolidated...

Parents that consider home education often ask how they should choose a curriculum, or which curriculum is the best. These parents are also often anxious to make this choice as soon as possible, because they are concerned that the child will fall “behind”. Before answering this question, it is important to understand that a curriculum is a body of knowledge that somebody else thinks that your child should learn. This “somebody...