“If you are planning for a year, sow rice; if you are planning for a decade, plant trees; if you are planning for a lifetime, educate people” (Chinese proverb).
Forty seven schools in the former Transkei and other rural areas of the province will and have already benefitted from the Department of Education’s Project 47 Schools, an initiative which aims to eradicate mud structures in the province.
The Department of Education has allocated construction processes to the Department of Public Works and the project falls under their Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP). Its infrastructure sector entails two elements, job creation and training. Six persons per school were trained in the following trades: two in bricklaying, two in painting and two in plumbing. The programme aims to transfer skills and to create work opportunities, contributing to the transformation of the construction industry.
Learners and teachers gradually witnessed the demolition of their old school at Ruze Junior Secondary School, situated near Mthatha in the OR Tambo district municipality. Educators use to teach in conditions not conducive to learning for many years.
This structure has now been replaced with the erection of 14 new classrooms, an administration block, a reception room, 22 new toilets, 13 new tanks, stock and security fencing. Construction started on 13 November 2008 and was successfully completed in February this year. A total number of 35 people were employed, of which 25 labourers were local. Ruze Principal, Zoe Songca said the community was very pleased with their new school.
“Learners started to leave the school because their parents complained about the fact that there were no windows or doors. Both educators and pupils’ health were compromised in the previous conditions. We were always getting sick before”, she said.
She then happily reported that most learners recently returned back to school and that they are all now enjoying a clean bill of health. The school accommodates 597 learners and 17 teachers at present. Brooksnek Junior Secondary School, located near Mount Frere in the Alfred Nzo district municipality is another project currently under construction.
The scope of work consists of 15 new class rooms, a reception room, principal’s office, staffroom, 26 new toilets, security fencing, stock fencing and demolitions. 43 persons are employed of which 28 workers are local. The school is expected to be completed soon. These sites were recently visited by members of the national Portfolio Committee on Public Works.
The objective of the visit was to stopover at EPWP and other service delivery projects in the province and to meet with project beneficiaries.
Committee Chairperson, Godfrey Oliphant expressed their approval with the progress made thus far.
“We’re not here to find fault. Instead we are here as your partners, wanting to see the acceleration of our service delivery programme. Government has identified rural development as one of our priority areas. Our presence here represents our commitment.”
Roads and Public Works MEC, Pemmy Majodina said last year at the launch of her 100 Days Service Delivery programme that: “During my tenure the consolidation of the infrastructure delivery programme of the province will be a focus point. This in turn will directly speak to the ruling party’s intention to develop a clear rural development strategy.
“We as government have learnt that despite significant progress made over the last 15 years, people living in rural areas continue to face the harshest conditions of poverty, lack of access to proper roads and basic services. Our roads infrastructure, EPWP and other projects have been aligned to achieve these developmental objectives. We stated clearly during our campaign that by working together we can do more.”
An infrastructure grant to provinces of R202 million had been allocated to the Department of Education for this programme. Delivering her State of the Province Address recently, Premier Noxolo Kiviet said they are revising their approach to the programme of mud schools eradication.
“In the current financial year we have replaced 62 mud structures and 40 more will be finalised by the end of March.”
The Premier said “strengthening education and building skills and a human resource base remain one of our key areas in this term”.
Issued by: Department of Roads and Public Works, Eastern Cape Provincial Government
16 March 2010
Source: Department of Roads and Public Works, Eastern Cape Provincial Government (http://dpw.ecprov.gov.za/)
