The Eastern Cape department of education has apologised to the teachers and pupils of Mcheni Junior Secondary School for taking too long to finish building a new R20m school.
This comes amid a social media storm over allegations that the Tsolo school’s 250 pupils are writing exams inside dilapidated prefab classrooms, or outside.
In a statement on Wednesday, Eastern Cape provincial spokesperson Loyiso Pulumani said the department was working on finding an alternative exam venue.
Pulumani said though construction had begun in November 2017 and had been envisaged for completion on March 2019, the project had been hit by delays when it was 60% complete due to structural defects caused primarily by geological challenges.
“The department wishes to apologise to the educators and learners and the parents and the community for this matter and hopes to resolve the situation to the satisfaction of the school before the start of the 2020 academic year,” Pulumani said.
He said about 52% of the R20m budget had been used.
“The project is now terminated as discussions ensue between the department and the Independent Development Trust towards a speedy resolution.”
Pulumani said a project had registered in August 2019 to provide five prefabricated classrooms and ablutions in the interim at an alternative site.
“Professional service providers are being appointed by the IDT to undertake this work.
“The department is committed to providing infrastructure that is conducive to teaching and learning, and which protects and upholds the dignity of our people,” he said.
malibongwed@dispatch.co.za
State sorry for ‘terminated’ school as kids study outside
The Eastern Cape department of education has apologised to the teachers and pupils of Mcheni Junior Secondary School for taking too long to finish building a new R20m school.
This comes amid a social media storm over allegations that the Tsolo school’s 250 pupils are writing exams inside dilapidated prefab classrooms, or outside.
In a statement on Wednesday, Eastern Cape provincial spokesperson Loyiso Pulumani said the department was working on finding an alternative exam venue.
Pulumani said though construction had begun in November 2017 and had been envisaged for completion on March 2019, the project had been hit by delays when it was 60% complete due to structural defects caused primarily by geological challenges.
“The department wishes to apologise to the educators and learners and the parents and the community for this matter and hopes to resolve the situation to the satisfaction of the school before the start of the 2020 academic year,” Pulumani said.
He said about 52% of the R20m budget had been used.
“The project is now terminated as discussions ensue between the department and the Independent Development Trust towards a speedy resolution.”
Pulumani said a project had registered in August 2019 to provide five prefabricated classrooms and ablutions in the interim at an alternative site.
“Professional service providers are being appointed by the IDT to undertake this work.
“The department is committed to providing infrastructure that is conducive to teaching and learning, and which protects and upholds the dignity of our people,” he said.
malibongwed@dispatch.co.za
Tsolo pupils forced to write exams outdoors in harsh weather
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