More than 118 Eastern Cape schools are overcrowded and in desperate need of more classrooms, acting education department administration head Sizakele Netshilaphala revealed to the Bhisho legislature this week.In a report tabled on Tuesday before the education portfolio committee meeting preparing for school visits over the next two weeks, Netshilaphala said there was a shortage of 510 classrooms in provincial schools.
She said the figures excluded some needy schools in Sterkspruit and Maluti that had yet to provide their list of needy schools.
According to a report to the committee by Netshilaphala’s department, the list included Bhisho Primary School, which needs eight more classrooms, Nompumelelo High School in Beacon Bay, which needs three, and Vulindlela Senior Secondary School in Libode district, which needs 10.
In the Port Elizabeth district five schools need 26 more classrooms and in Mthatha five schools need 25.
The overcrowded schools in Port Elizabeth are Khumbulani High, KwaNoxolo, Joe Slovo, Ben Nyathi and Kama.
Those in the Mthatha district are Artwell Madala High, Esethu Senior Primary, Holomisa High, Ntekelelo Junior Secondary and Gengqe Senior Secondary.
The report further states that five schools in the East London education district are in need of a combined 18 classrooms.
They are Florendale, Noncedo, Mzamowethu, Kuswag and Nompumelelo High.
Schools with the most need for extra classrooms are in the Libode district, with five schools requiring an extra 50 classrooms.
Beside Vulindlela they are Gxaba, Ntafufu, Makukhanye and Cibeni, which each need 10 extra classrooms.
Five schools in the Fort Beaufort area are in need of 28 classrooms while 21 schools spread across Lusikisiki, Maluti, Mbizana, Mount Fletcher, Mount Frere and Qumbu need a combined 137 extra classes.
The best performing education district in the province, the Cradock district, also has a shortage of classroom space.
Five schools – JA Ncasa Primary, Carinus, AB Zambodla Primary, Van der Merwe and Ikwezi Senior Primary – need 26 classes.
According to the report, six schools in the Grahamstown district need 20 classes, five schools in King William’s Town need 25 extra classes, and five schools in the Uitenhage area are in desperate need of another 19 classrooms.
In another report presented at the same meeting, Netshilaphala’s department revealed that they would need an extra R2.5-billion to deal with mud structures and schools with no water, sanitation and electricity in the next three years.
Over a seven-year period the department will have to allocate R11-billion to deal with insufficient classes, inappropriate structures, fencing and connectivity in some provincial schools.
Committee chairman Fundile Gade yesterday said the shortage of classes in provincial schools was a great concern, which had to be dealt with urgently in order to create an environment conducive to learning. — asandan@dispatch.co.za
Bhisho takes stock of need for classrooms
In a report tabled on Tuesday before the education portfolio committee meeting preparing for school visits over the next two weeks, Netshilaphala said there was a shortage of 510 classrooms in provincial schools.
She said the figures excluded some needy schools in Sterkspruit and Maluti that had yet to provide their list of needy schools.
According to a report to the committee by Netshilaphala’s department, the list included Bhisho Primary School, which needs eight more classrooms, Nompumelelo High School in Beacon Bay, which needs three, and Vulindlela Senior Secondary School in Libode district, which needs 10.
In the Port Elizabeth district five schools need 26 more classrooms and in Mthatha five schools need 25.
The overcrowded schools in Port Elizabeth are Khumbulani High, KwaNoxolo, Joe Slovo, Ben Nyathi and Kama.
Those in the Mthatha district are Artwell Madala High, Esethu Senior Primary, Holomisa High, Ntekelelo Junior Secondary and Gengqe Senior Secondary.
The report further states that five schools in the East London education district are in need of a combined 18 classrooms.
They are Florendale, Noncedo, Mzamowethu, Kuswag and Nompumelelo High.
Schools with the most need for extra classrooms are in the Libode district, with five schools requiring an extra 50 classrooms.
Beside Vulindlela they are Gxaba, Ntafufu, Makukhanye and Cibeni, which each need 10 extra classrooms.
Five schools in the Fort Beaufort area are in need of 28 classrooms while 21 schools spread across Lusikisiki, Maluti, Mbizana, Mount Fletcher, Mount Frere and Qumbu need a combined 137 extra classes.
The best performing education district in the province, the Cradock district, also has a shortage of classroom space.
Five schools – JA Ncasa Primary, Carinus, AB Zambodla Primary, Van der Merwe and Ikwezi Senior Primary – need 26 classes.
According to the report, six schools in the Grahamstown district need 20 classes, five schools in King William’s Town need 25 extra classes, and five schools in the Uitenhage area are in desperate need of another 19 classrooms.
In another report presented at the same meeting, Netshilaphala’s department revealed that they would need an extra R2.5-billion to deal with mud structures and schools with no water, sanitation and electricity in the next three years.
Over a seven-year period the department will have to allocate R11-billion to deal with insufficient classes, inappropriate structures, fencing and connectivity in some provincial schools.
Committee chairman Fundile Gade yesterday said the shortage of classes in provincial schools was a great concern, which had to be dealt with urgently in order to create an environment conducive to learning. — asandan@dispatch.co.za
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