Steve Biko High on cards

A NEW inner-city high school in East London to be named after Black Consciousness Movement leader Steve Biko could take its first intake in 2019 – if all goes to plan.

The Steve Biko High School will open to hundreds of pupils when it takes over the premises of Grens Primary and Prep Schools between Muir and Lambert streets, along Oxford street in Southernwood.

Grens Laërskool will move to a new school currently under construction on their high school premises in Baysville to make way for the inner-city high school.

The need for an inner-city high school is felt every year when thousands of pupils from city primary schools with no feeder high schools struggle to find places at former Model C schools.

Speaking to the Daily Dispatch last week the principal of Grens, Jan Brand, urged the department of education to stick to its construction schedule.

“The new school is currently 80% complete but there have been minor glitches with reports of staff not being paid for two months.

“The plan is to have the new school completed by next year and we move by the end of next year so that the new high school can become operational in 2019,” said Brand.

The old structure has about 30 classrooms that can accommodate close to 1 000 pupils, two halls, a library, art room, two tennis courts, a 25m swimming pool and a rugby field.

Last year the Dispatch reported on the provincial executive announcement to consider building new schools, or increasing the capacity of existing Model C schools in East London, given the shortage of schools in the city.

The idea of building new schools or increasing capacity of existing ones is believed to be the brainchild of Eastern Cape premier Phumulo Masualle.

Only one school has been built in East London since 1994 and that is Lumko High School in Rosedale, Amalinda. —