By More Matshediso
Johannesburg - Four hundred of the 580 schools in Gauteng, which had various challenges with sanitation, have had their toilets completely repaired.
In addition, more than 150 of the remaining schools will also have their toilets repaired by the end of September.
This was announced by the Gauteng MEC for Education, Panyaza Lesufi, who reported on the progress made during his first 100 days in office, which ended in August.
“The degree of disrepair in these schools varied and I granted permission for the project to be concluded by month end. Contractors were appointed to do work in all of these schools and a budget of R150 million was set aside for this purpose,” said MEC Lesufi at a media briefing on Thursday in Tembisa.
He referred to sanitation as dignity, and said he believes no learner should be taught in conditions that deprived them of such dignity.
“Before I came in this office [as MEC], there was no budget for sanitation in schools. I am the champion of sanitation,” said MEC Lesufi.
The department said it has developed guidelines for all schools to assist them in managing and maintaining toilets more effectively.
Developing learner performance
On the academic front, MEC Lesufi said Gauteng is ready for the Annual National Assessment (ANA). He said the bar has been raised high and there are great expectations on learners.
He said learner performance had to be comparable with other Southern African Development Community (SADC) schools.
The Education MEC said as of next year, he will launch the paperless teaching method in five schools in the province, where learners will use gadgets instead of textbooks and chalkboards.
He said the first phase of the project will target grade 8 to 10, followed by 11 and 12 the next year.
“Five of our schools will be converted to paperless schools when schools reopen… This means all learners from grade 8 to 10 and their educators will each receive a tablet and every class will have an interactive board,” said MEC Lesufi.
He said infrastructure work to make classrooms e-ready has commenced, and Wi-Fi will be used to connect the classrooms.
The identified schools for smart classrooms are Tandi Eleanor Sibeko Secondary School, Boitumelong Secondary School, Tlamatlama Primary School, Tshepisa Primary School and Phomolong High School.
The MEC also officially opened the state-of-the-art Peter Zongwane Primary School in Phomolong, Tembisa.
The newly built R45-million primary school accommodates about 1 200 learners. - SAnews.gov.za
