Sixty infrastructure programmes have been completed in a year in the Eastern Cape, as part of government’s programme to transform the education sector by providing decent school facilities.

“The programme aims to deliver an adequate standard of schools to all children in the province and to ensure that the facilities are conducive for effective teaching and learning,” explains Coega Development Corporation (CDC) Head of Marketing and Communications, Dr Ayanda Vilakazi.

The school infrastructure upliftment programme is for communities in OR Tambo, Chris Hani and Amathole rural districts in the Eastern Cape. The programme has provided emergency schools, early childhood centres, technical workshops and the eradication of mud structures.

The project is part of the national Department of Basic Education’s Accelerated Schools Infrastructure Delivery Initiative programme (ASIDI). ASIDI is an on-going programme aimed at implementing the basic safety norms and standards in school infrastructure.

“We currently are sitting at 82% of the projects done. We have a total of 73 school infrastructure upliftment projects valued at R638 million that need to be completed by the end of year,” says Zine Mtanda, CDC Programme Director for Education and Sports, Recreation, Arts and Culture.

Mtanda said the remaining 13 schools would be completed by December.

“Eradicating mud schools restores dignity to education and is transforming people’s lives for the better,” said Vilakazi. “Schools play a critical role as a catalyst for a better life and the gateway in equipping society to improve its livelihood.”

 

— SAnews.gov.za