JOHANNESBURG – The schools are refurbished as part of the Accelerated Schools Infrastructure Delivery Initiative (ASIDI) that was established to replace schools built from inappropriate materials and to provide basic services to schools that previously had none. The unveiling of state-of-the-art built or refurbished schools, will cost between R35 million and R50 million.
“The initiative has resulted in the completion of over 170 schools out of a targeted 510 around the country with 126 of them situated in the Eastern Cape. Provincial Education Departments (PED’s) continue to deliver services such as water, sanitation, electricity and other resources through the Education Infrastructure Grant (EIG),” the department said in a statement.
The department reported that although there remains a backlog, progress is being made to address infrastructure challenge. The programme further provided schools built in rural and underprivileged urban areas with a science lab, computer lab, media centre, rain water harvesting tanks, nutrition centre and fully functional administration block with offices and staff room.
The department reported that 126 schools are at various stages of implementation and 54 of those schools will be completed in the course of the 2016/17 financial year. The ASIDI programme has also made available to 615 schools with water, 418 with decent sanitation and 307 with electricity.
“While a lot of progress has been made, the department is mindful of the fact that a lot still needs to be done ensure that the dignity of learners is restored,” said the department. The department collaborates with the Department of Water and Sanitation to ensure that basic services are allocated to distressed schools.
Out of 5,428 schools in the Eastern Cape, 55 schools are without adequate water supply and as a result, 44 mobile tankers have been installed while 1040 borehole wells have been drilled. Rainwater harvesting is currently being implemented at 3188 schools. The department has until November 29, to meet the minimum norms and standards for infrastructure.
“While we are mindful of the November 29 deadline, it was always an ambitious target considering the need. It was however a necessary step to jolt the system into action and ensure implementers understand it cannot be business as usual.”said the department.
– African News Agency
