R2-billion for school infrastructure upgrades
MORE than R2-billion has been set aside by the KZN Education Department for infrastructure development in the 2018/19 financial year.
MEC Mthandeni Dlungwana said despite a declining budget, the department continues to invest in the building and refurbishment of schools in the province.
‘When infrastructure challenges are identified, urgent interventions are immediately conducted.
‘At Buhlebuzile Primary School in Zululand, Zuzulwazi High and Jabulani Primary in the Umgungundlovu district, infrastructure challenges were identified and are being addressed,’ he said.
Dlungwana announced plans to turn Dingukwazi High School in Pongola into a state-of-the-art school.
‘During our visit to Dingukwazi High, we noticed that the school was overcrowded.
‘The technical designs have been finalised and it is anticipated that it should be advertised for tender before the end of this month.’
The school will be provided with 24 classrooms, an administration block, science laboratory, four multi-purpose classrooms, a media centre, computer room, sports field and other facilities.
‘As a temporary measure, we have supplied mobile classrooms to ease overcrowding and also drilled a borehole for the provision of water,’ Dlungwana said.
He highlighted that there is still a substantial budget shortfall in addressing storm damages at 494 schools.
‘Consequently, the department is forced to deviate from the planned infrastructure programmes,’ Dlungwana said.
He added that with more than 1 377 schools still using pit toilets, the eradication of these facilities will put more strain on the already constrained budget.
‘This will require a special approach and specific funding in the implementation strategy currently being formulated to address the matter,’ he said.