Flagstaff Comprehensive to undergo R38m facelift

BY LULAMILE FENI

A school that houses more than 1000 pupils, is one of three schools set to receive a major facelift as part of a R195-million revitalisation programme in the OR Tambo district.

Flagstaff Comprehensive School in Flagstaff, which accommodates pupils from Grade R to 12, is 92 years old and has been labelled a health hazard and a threat to pupils and teachers.

It was originally built through funds collected from community members.

Established in 1924 as Msigaba School catering for grades 1 to 4, the school was upgraded in 1975 to a junior secondary facility and later to a combined comprehensive school offering classes up to grade 12 in 1996.

It is now set to benefit from the programme led by the Eastern Cape Development Corporation (ECDC).

ECDC board chairman Nhlanganiso Dladla said the revitalisation programme was being implemented from an initial R300-million allocation from the provincial government towards the implementation of the Integrated Social Infrastructure Delivery Programme (ISIDP).

Other schools that will benefit are Dilizintaba Secondary School in Tsolo and Plangeni High School in Mbizana.

“Construction has already begun at all three schools and we expect that the last school will be completed by April next year,” Dladla said. “We are ahead of schedule at the Flagstaff and Dilizintaba sites.”

ECDC CEO Ndzondelelo Dlulane said R38-million was directed to Flagstaff Comprehensive School with its 1109 pupils. Work is expected to be completed in January.

All existing buildings will be demolished and the scope of the work includes the construction of eight new classrooms, a single Grade R classroom, administration block, media centre with store rooms, science lab with store rooms, multi-purpose classroom with store rooms, social science room, two HOD offices with a teachers’ workroom, nutrition dining and kitchen building, guardhouse, 19 new ablution facilities, as well as new pathways and covered walkways.

“This new school will create a sense of ownership and it will be a source of pride for the community,” Flagstaff Comprehensive School principal Malibongwe Spencer said.

“Pupils will no longer stand in queues for meals; they will be seated in a dining hall and the sanitation facilities will be vastly improved. The school will market itself to attract top pupils as well.”

The school will in future be divided into Flagstaff Primary School and Flagstaff High School.

Dlulane said the revitalisation of Plangeni High School with 1171 pupils was expected to cost R52.3-million and work was due for completion in April next year.

Work includes the construction of 12 new classrooms.

Work at Dilizintaba, with 740 pupils, is set to cost R53-million. The expected completion date is February next year. — lulamilef@dispatch.co.za