Jubilee Park given a lifeline
AFTER years of being catered for in a dilapidated structure, the Eastern Cape Department of Education has changed the fortunes of more than 500 children, following the partial completion of Jubilee Park Primary.
While there are still busy finishing touches such as paving, railings and sports fields to be completed, the start of the second term will see the pupils move from the last remaining section of the old wood and asbestos structure and catered for in nine new classrooms.
Classes will continue to run in shifts, with half of the school attending classes in the morning and the rest in the afternoon, to ensure all of the pupils are accommodated in the newly-built wing.
The new building boasts 37 classrooms, 14 ablution facilities, four of which will accommodate disabled children, three netball courts, three rugby fields, three Grade R classrooms, a computer lab, library, fully equipped kitchen and admin block.
The upgrades will help the Uitenhage school cater for almost double its intake of about 550 pupils. The total cost of the project amounts to R77-million.
Education MEC Mandla Makupula said despite the budget allocation for infrastructure during 2018-19 having decreased by 10.9% to R1 489-billion due to baseline reductions in conditional grant funding, he indicated that funds had been identified to service active contracts. The school was hit hard by a fire in May 2013 that burnt down eight classrooms and the library.
Police spokesman Sergeant Majola Nkohli said the cause of the fire remained unknown.
“The case has been closed as there was insufficient evidence to link any wrongdoing to the fire,” he said.
Former principal Lorna Bosman said: “I was the principal at the time. It was a tragic incident [but] now to see where the building is, I can’t explain the feeling of joy and happiness.
“Staff and pupils have for the past four years had to teach and learn in exceptionally difficult conditions.”
In his policy and budget speech, the MEC said additional projects include the provision of 100 schools with water supply, 68 with sanitation and six with electricity and provide schools with 411 classrooms, 10 ECD classrooms, as well as 14 specialist rooms in ordinary public schools.
Seven special needs schools that are under construction will be funded.
Makupula said there were 20 ECD projects currently under construction and a further 11 at advance design documentation stage.
He said the accelerated infrastructure delivery initiative (Asidi) is expected to deliver three schools during the upcoming financial year. They include Clarkson/Amafengu Primary School, Andrieskraal Primary School and Mbekweni High School as part of the identified clustered schools, as well as 38 hostels under construction.