Teaching resumes after Louis Rex Primary gets last three classrooms

All 13 prefab classrooms have now been delivered to Louis Rex Primary, with teaching having resumed.

This followed a protest and a nine-day halt to teaching when only 10 of the 13 classrooms – part of a R26m project – were delivered.

School Governing Body chair Gerald Adams said a public works building inspector had checked the school and cleared the safety aspect “hence the return to school”.

He said the project had started in September 2022 and was expected to be completed seven months later in May 2023, but was extended for five months to September.

Adams said at a recent meeting with provincial education and public works and infrastructure officials, the school’s principal, Bevan Christoffels, had been asked to move the school’s pupils from the old school building to the new prefab classrooms.

This was done during the week before the school closed, said Adams.

However, the arrival of the three outstanding prefabricated classrooms which had to be assembled and prepped had brought new challenges, Adams said.

This had created safety issues for children and staff and made it difficult to reopen the school.

“Be that as it may, prefabs have been delivered and it appears that everything is on track. The school re-opened on Monday, April 15.”

He praised the government officials for their effort in sorting out the issues with the contractor.

“The school is now operational.

“The reasons for having the children stay at home have been sorted and it is now all done.

“Our thanks and appreciation to the parents for their resolve, patience and understanding shown,” he said.

Provincial education spokesperson, Malibongwe Mtima, said: “The department is grateful for the cooperation that has led to the delivery of the new structures at the school.

“We hope the community will use them fruitfully towards teaching and learning.

“Additionally, this should guarantee that the school will resume teaching and that learning will be restored.”

The department is grateful for the cooperation that has led to the delivery of the new structures at the school