Gauteng’s success in becoming a Global City Region has resulted in in-migration into the Province therein placing additional demands for access to education. In January 2012, Gauteng enrolled 88 000 learners from outside the province. This challenge calls for faster and more efficient methods of constructing schools.
The Gauteng Department of Infrastructure Development is responding to this challenge through the implementation of the New Priority Schools Programme (NPSP). Nine schools to the value of approximately R700 million have been identified for NPSP implementation, which will enable schools to be completed within eight months using traditional methods of construction (brick and mortar).
In this regard my department will commence immediately with the construction of:
- Chief Albert Luthuli Primary School in Daveyton
- Northriding Secondary School in Randburg
- Palmridge Secondary School in Katlehong
- Slovoville Primary School in Soweto
- Noordwyk Primary School in Midrand
Construction of the remaining four schools will be managed by the Independent Development Trust (IDT) on the department’s behalf, and will adhere to similar timeframes. These include:
- Mamelodi Primary School
- Naturena Primary School
- Freedom Park Primary School
- Steve Bikoville Primary
Some of the requirements that each contractor committed to meet during the tender process include:
- Entering into a joint venture/ partnership arrangement with small contractors (typically with CIDB Grading of 1 to 5), in order to ensure skills transfer.
- Maximising the use of local resources (local to the area of the project) in order to promote localisation.
- Contractors were further required to indicate targeted job creation, in line with Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP) guidelines.
I wish to congratulate all contractors awarded tenders as part of the NPSP, my message is resolute - the days of construction overruns will be a legacy of the past; we will hold you accountable to the delivery of education infrastructure that is on time, within budget and of superior quality. I will not tolerate contractors who cut corners, DID is not the environment that will tolerate mediocrity. Only contractors who have a pedigree of delivering excellent service, will be afforded the opportunity to work with DID.
I have appointed a dedicated internal Project Manager to each of these sites to oversee the planning process, review design and technical reports prepared by the turnkey contractor, provide programme monitoring and quality assurance, cost monitoring and to facilitate project handover and closure.
Members of the community, each of these schools will be based on the principles of turnkey (planning, design and construction). It is anticipated that the turnkey approach, will contribute significantly to savings in project costs and delivery timeframes. A critical contributing factor will be that planning, design and construction will be centrally coordinated by the contractor, introducing efficiencies in communication and decision making.In line with the turnkey approach the contractors awarded projects will:
- Construct the schools in accordance with the specifications.
- Handover the completed schools to the Gauteng Department of Infrastructure Development.
Additionally, the turnkey contractor will be required to furnish standard industry warranties and guarantees and accept specified liabilities. These will include:
- Warranties for the timeliness of deliveries of equipment, of erection and of completion times of civil and mechanical works.
- Warranties for workmanship in construction and erection of the works according to specifications, and warranties guarantees that proper standards will be used.
- Proper safety standards being implemented.
- Civil and mechanical engineering warranties; in the latter case the turnkey-contractor undertakes to assure that mechanical performance will be maintained for a definite period.
Each of the NPSP schools will be constructed on the principles of energy efficiency. Part of the landscape and building fabric will be water tanks to harness rainwater for localised irrigation.
On the completion of the Building Works, a maintenance plan shall be handed over to DID with all the necessary technical documentation & certificates with a list of all suppliers & sub contractors that supplied & installed specialised equipment. A three year maintenance plan will also come into effect.
The school prototype comprises six blocks. The Administration Block consists of a reception area, waiting area, staff offices, staff room, kitchen and ablutions. It is linked to the library block which includes the computer room, audio visual and media area, which will be used by the teachers and pupils for learning and research purposes. This facility will also be utilised by the public at stipulated time frames. Adjacent to the library, will be a tuck shop and an open seating area. The assembly area is enveloped by the block.
The senior Grade 7 block consists of 3 classrooms, 1 art and culture facility, 2 laboratories and 1 technology centre with ablution blocks and an HOD office. The courtyard is an open play ground which has a sand pit in the centre. There are covered walkways around the courtyard.
The intermediate Grade 4-6 block has 9 classrooms, 1 art and culture room and 1 laboratory with ablution blocks and an HOD office. The courtyard consists of an open play ground with a sand pit in the centre. There are covered walkways around the courtyard.
The foundation Grade 1-3 block has 9 classrooms, 1 art and culture room, with ablution blocks and an HOD office. The courtyard has outside classrooms in an amphitheatre format, a planting area and a sand pit in the centre. There are covered walkways around the courtyard.
The Grade R block has 2 learning sections, 2 story telling sections, a sick room and a computer area for 10 stations, a kitchen and toilets. The playground has an amphitheatre and a sand pit. It also has a separate drop-off zone from the main entrance.
Finally, the Sports block has a tuck shop, administration office and change rooms. There is also a grand stand facing the soccer field. A refuse area has also been provided.
Members of the community, I am committed to eliminating wasteful expenditure in infrastructure spending emanating from cost escalations, project scope creep, lack of effective planning and poor project management. Within a period of eight months, you will experience the benefits of the New Priority Schools Programme (NPSP), with the delivery of Chief Albert Luthuli Primary School.
I am confident that through the successful implementation of the NPSP, the Department of Infrastructure Development will emerge as the “Premier construction entity of the Gauteng Provincial Government”.
I thank you.
For enquiries contact:
Ramona Baijnath
Cell: 071 670 5863
E-mail: ramona.baijnath@gauteng.gov.za
