Programme Director;
MEC for Education, Barbara Creecy;
MEC for Infrastructure Development, Bheki Nkosi;
MMC, Rasello Mashego;
Councillors;
Distinguished Guests; and
Ladies and Gentlemen.
It is a great pleasure for me today to be putting another milestone in the great path that we have embarked upon of changing Gauteng for the better through the development of infrastructure. What still reverberates in our minds is the role that infrastructure development played in cushioning the loss of jobs in the aftermath of the 2008/09 recession.
Moving forward, our development focus will be on building a modern infrastructure, both social and economic, that support economic growth, job creation, and enable us to address the triple challenges of poverty, unemployment and inequality. It is through the provision of quality infrastructure that businesses flourish and communities enjoy a better life.
The provision of Quality Basic Education still remains the central priority of the current administration. Therefore, we have set aside R4.3 billion over the medium term for the construction of new schools, maintenance, and upgrading of existing schools. Included in this amount is the allocation of R120 million for the construction of the Magaliesberg Boarding School, which is expected to be completed during the 2013/14 financial year. This sod-turning event today is but an indication of bigger and better things to come.
As the Provincial Government, we strongly believe that we have begun turning the corner in regard to the capacity to deliver on infrastructure projects timeously and ensure that scarce resources are directed towards economic development. We all know that incapacity and under-spending in infrastructure projects deprives communities of essential amenities. It is for this reason, therefore, that we will continue building an effective project management capacity and leverage from strategic partnerships such as we are witnessing today.
Programme Director,
Throughout the world today, women of all hues, shapes and sizes are commemorating the International Day for Women. This special day is observed annually on 8 March with the aim of highlighting the achievements of women across the world. This year, the theme for the commemoration is: “Connecting Girls; Inspiring Futures”.
As I stand here before you to witness this ground-breaking sod-turning ceremony marking the commencement of the construction of Olievenhoutbosch Primary School; I am particularly excited that young women will be some of the main beneficiaries. We are all aware that investing in the education of young girls is a tried-and-tested way of investing in the future of their communities. The construction of this school is, also, in a way, our commitment to building a world where young girls are free to be who they want to be – empowered by the quality education we are offering at our schools. This school will also showcase how we as the provincial government are trying new things in order to fast-track service delivery to our people.
The construction of this institution is also in line with the promise we made in the State of the Province Address last month that health and education would be the focus of our infrastructure development programme.
The Department of Infrastructure Development appointed the Independent Development Trust (IDT) to build the Olievenhoutbosch Primary school and eight other schools in Tshwane, Johannesburg and Mogale City using alternative construction methods to address the slow delivery of schools in our Province.
In this regard, a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the IDT to build these schools using the alternative method of construction has already been signed. I have on good counsel that the alternative method enables the building of a new school within a period of only six months.
The methodologies employed are 60% faster than conventional construction technology. Consequently, this will radically improve service delivery timelines and contribute to faster access to places of learning.
This technology is also environmentally-friendly and is in line with the global green objectives of the United Nations that seek to reduce global warming.
In utilising the alternative technology, 20% construction cost is saved compared to conventional technologies with the added benefit of employing a significantly higher number of low level skills and ensuring that the schools are furnished. The Provincial Government is spending about R 33 million to build this school.
Programme Director,
When completed, the Olievenhoutbosch Primary School will consist of 23 classrooms, an administration block, a library, a computer lab, water-borne toilets and a grade R classroom.
The school will also have a soccer field covered with grass pitch and floodlights, as well as tennis and netball courts.
We have a set target to build 132 new schools and refurbish 1 000 schools by 2014. We are optimistic that with this new building technology, we will be able to meet this target. Importantly, we also call on the private sector to partner with the government in tackling this mammoth task. This government has always been advocating that education should be everyone’s business; not just the government alone.
The huge demand for new schools in our province is, to a large degree, due to a demand to enroll learners as a result of in-migration. For 2012 alone, Gauteng enrolled about 88 000 learners from other provinces. The majority of these learners came from provinces such as Limpopo, KwaZulu Natal and the Eastern Cape.
Programme Director,
This huge demand can also be attributed to the fact that education has become one of our major success stories. We have vastly improved access to schooling – we achieved a gross enrolment ratio of 84% in primary schools and 83% in secondary schools by 2010.
Undoubtedly, there has been a major improvement from 57% in 2008 to 75% in 2011 in the percentage of learners who complete schooling to matric level. The quality of basic education continues to improve, with our matric pass rate increasing from 71.8% in 2009 to 81% in 2011. Gauteng was the top-performing province in 2010 and second in 2011.
Flowing from the above scenario, I would like to reiterate that the Gauteng Provincial Government has placed infrastructure development, job creation and skills development at the top of the list of priorities for the period ahead, in order to help build better and sustainable communities in the province.
Our government has committed to improving the quality of education through, among other things, the delivery of adequate infrastructure to all schools. This has been a mammoth task since we came to power in 1994. As you know, there were many disparities created by the past system. Yet, in spite of that, we have increased the number of public schools and have started replacing dilapidated structures.
There’s no debate that our country needs more investment in school infrastructure both to satisfy the right to basic education and to improve the quality of learning and learning outcomes.
Research points to a clear correlation between learner achievement and the richness of teaching and learning materials and resources. It is against this backdrop that we have prioritised workbooks for learners, and have also taken the task of ensuring that there is at least a chair and a desk for every learner, as well as a textbook for each learner in each subject.
Programme Director,
Let me conclude by stating that an investment in education is an investment in the future. In Gauteng, we are making great strides in improving the quality of the education of the African child. Accordingly, we need a comprehensive societal commitment and action to successfully achieve our aims and objectives in education.
Dankie.
Ngiyabonga.
Address by Gauteng Premier, Ms Nomvula Mokonyane, during the occasion of the sod-turning for the Olievenhoutbosch Primary School in Tshwane.
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