The South African Government’s commitment to eradicate inappropriate school structures received a major boost when the Minister of Basic Education, Mrs Angie Motshekga, handed over the brand new Welese Primary School to residents of the Libode District in the Eastern Cape.
Welese Primary School’s sleek modern design comprises14 classrooms, two Grade R centres, a nutrition centre, ablution blocks and a multimedia centre which includes science labs and a library.
The school was built as part of the Accelerated Schools Infrastructure Delivery Initiative (ASIDI), whose aim is to implement basic infrastructural safety norms and standards for schools. Funded through the Schools Infrastructure Backlog Grant (SIBG), ASIDI aims to replace 510 schools that were built with inappropriate structures with facilities that meet the Department of Basic Education’s standards of basic functionality. The programme will also, for the first time, supply 939 schools with sanitation facilities as well as basic water to 1145 schools.
Speaking at the official handover, Minister Motshekga said the construction of the school was a clear indication that the State was committed to delivering schools, roads and running water where none existed before.
“Together we can build a better country, wherein each child and citizen has a role to play. We must reverse the untenable situation, noted in the 2007 community survey from Stats SA, that pointed out that there were 2.8 million young people who are neither within the education system nor employment sector,” said the Minister.
“We are hard at work to undo such damage because we ARE a government that works, a government that cares, a government that is consciously and practically at war with poverty, inequality, joblessness as well as underdevelopment; particularly in our villages.”
Minister Motshekga also assured the community that the Department of Basic Education was on track to eradicate mud schools in the province and had moved swiftly to ensure there were no disruptions to this infrastructure project.
“We pledged to deliver 49 schools to the region by the end of March and we currently stand at 17, with 10 of them from the Libode District alone,” explained the Minister.
“The major reason for this shortfall has been the liquidation of one of the contractors who was building 12 schools and the termination of another’s contract. Our implementing agents are in the process of appointing new contractors to complete the outstanding schools, which on average are currently at 85% completion. I’m happy and confident to say that we will soon be announcing the completion of those schools as well,” she concluded.
Minister Motshekga urged parents and learners to make optimal use of the new facilities, to work towards attaining a better future and to turn the school into a centre of excellence within the community.
