Pretoria – The Department of Basic Education has built 74 schools, which have changed the experience of learning and teaching for thousands of pupils and teachers.
“As at 18 August, we have built 70 new schools in the Eastern Cape and four in the Western Cape,” the department said on Monday.
The schools were built under the Accelerated Schools Infrastructure Delivery Initiative (ASIDI). The programme aims to restore dignity to education through the building of new schools and delivering much needed facilities to schools around the country, particularly in the Eastern Cape.
The department said Samson Primary School in the Eastern Cape will join the long list of schools that have received new facilities -- built from alternative construction technology -- by December this year.
Furnishing schools in need
The department has procured 78 240 double combination desks, 5 292 teachers’ tables and chairs from the Department of Labour to the value of nearly R60 million.
To date, 53 948 desks, 5 292 teachers’ chairs and 1 134 teachers tables were delivered to schools in the Eastern Cape.
More than 73 084 desks were also ordered from the Department of Environmental Affairs to the value of R42.8 million.
The first group of 252 schools in the Libode district in the Eastern Cape has received its consignment consisting of 24 535 desks. A further consignment of 24 000 desks is currently being delivered to schools in the Eastern Cape.
Treasury has finalised a further contract to supply furniture from Grade R to 12 for the period August 2014 to July 2016. Furniture provision is an ongoing programme.
ASIDI
The department is building close to 500 schools nationally under the ASIDI programme. The majority of the schools are being built in the Eastern Cape to replace mud or inappropriate structures.
It usually takes takes 10 to 15 months for a state-of-the art school to be built, if no delays are encountered.
Learning is not interrupted as the learners are housed in temporary mobile classrooms during construction. They move into the school as soon as it is ready.
Standard facilities for newly built schools include classrooms, administration blocks multi-purpose centres, science and computer labs, nutrition centres, libraries, decent sanitation, electricity, rain water harvesting tanks and a fully resourced Grade R centre, complete with jungle gym and sand pit.
ASIDI also provides basic services of water, electricity and sanitation to schools that previously had none.
To date, 266 schools have been provided with sanitation, while 339 schools are at various stages of procurement of contractors and construction.
Two hundred and twenty-four schools have been provided with water, while 685 schools are at various stages of procurement of contractors and construction of the works.
Under the programme, 265 schools have been provided with electrification, while 212 schools are at various stages of design and procurement of contractors.
Schools are assessed to establish infrastructure needs. The department appoints implementing agents that manage projects on its behalf. The implementing agents in turn procure and appoint professional service providers and contractors, who carry out the work. – SAnews.gov.za
