Hundreds of high school learners from a Cape Town School protested outside the Western Cape Department of Education on Thursday to demand more textbooks.

Grade 8 to 12 learners from Maitland High School, clad in full school attire and school bags, were bearing paper signs that read, “No textbooks, no school” and “5 months with no textbooks”.

“It’s been five months since January that we don’t have textbooks,” said 16-year-old Margaret Chiunye, a grade 9 learner.

According to Chiunye, many learners from grade 9 to 12 still do not have access to textbooks.

“We need textbooks. We want the highest education,” she added.

Matric learner and prefect at Maitland High, Nonkosi Mashiqa, explained that less than a quarter of grade 12’s have textbooks.

Angry

She said that learners attempted to bring the issue to light with the principal, but their attempts fell on deaf ears.

They decided to take up the complaint with the department of education.

“I’m angry,” said Mashiqa. “The school is complaining about progress but we don’t even have textbooks.”

With exams coming up, learners are also concerned with the lack of study material.

Officials from the Western Cape Department of Education informed the students they will investigate the matter. News24