School Infrastructure in the province

Meeting report

Briefing by the Western Cape Education Department (WCED)

Minister Debbie Schafer, in her brief introductory remarks, stated that there has been a lot of activity in the West Coast. The Department is trying very hard to address issues related to school infrastructure in the area. The Department has interim plans in place.

Ms Lesline McGlen, Chief Director: Physical Infrastructure, WCED, said the presentation focused on questions the Committee raised. Some answers that would be provided during the deliberations would supplement the presentation. Despite the challenges of the non-placement of learners and over-crowding, the Department remains committed to its strategy which is linked to its own mission statement and provincial government-inspired goals. The Department is constantly trying to improve the quality of education for every child and school in the province. The focus is on goal number three, which is about accompanying the child from pre-birth to when the child leaves the school to serve. That is the motto or statement of the Department in every school.

Mr Gerrit Coetzee, Director: Infrastructure, WCED, briefed the Committee on the list of schools scheduled for replacement for the 2021/22 financial year; budget allocated to the Department of Transport and Public Works for the replacement and maintenance of schools in the current financial year, including the Swartland Municipality; schools that have been postponed for maintenance and replacement due to the Covid-19 pandemic, and provided additional information pertaining to the infrastructure of schools.

Concerning the budget allocation, a total of R553.027million was allocated to the Department of Transport and Public Works (DTPW) for replacement and maintenance in 2021/22 according to the adjustment budget. The replacement of the school sub-programme budget is R161.573million.  28 replacement school projects are listed over the MTEF as replacement schools allocated to the Department of Transport and Public Works in the Infrastructure Programme Management Plan (IPMP). Only Chatsworth Primary School is in the Swartland Municipality. The Preventative Maintenance sub-programme budget is R391.454 million. 151 Preventative Maintenance projects were allocated to the DTPW in the IPMP of which six schools are located in the Swartland Municipality: Darling Primary School, Riverlands Primary School, Ruststasie Primary School, St. Michael’s Primary School, Wesbank High School and the Swartland High School. 

About schools that have been postponed for maintenance and replacement due to the Covid-19 pandemic, reprioritisation of the infrastructure budget took place in the previous 2020/21 financial year and the budget was cut to accommodate the reallocation of infrastructure funding towards COVID-19 PPE.  The total budget cut in 2020/21 was 27% (R484.9 million) of the original budget allocation of R1.74 billion. This cut caused delays in 19 new and replacement schools and 94 preventative maintenance projects from 2020/21 having to be delayed to 2021/22.  

At the adjustment budget stage, R192 million was added back to the budget for specific maintenance projects as agreed between the Provincial Treasury and the DTPW. No maintenance or replacement schools were specifically postponed in 2021/22 due to the Covid 19 pandemic. Some preventative maintenance projects listed in the 2021/22 IPMP are delayed due to the framework contractor cancelation and re-advertisement.  The knock-on effect of budget cuts in previous financial years continue in 2021/22 with delayed projects from previous years only being completed in 2021/22 and projects originally planned for 2021/22 moving along to outer years.

Lastly, on mobile classrooms, he reported 129 mobiles have been delivered during 2021/22. 173 mobiles are in progress of being delivered of which 105 are at existing schools and seven in new schools.

(A table was shown to illustrate a list of expansion classrooms that was also included in the IPMP 2021/22 and are at different stages of progress of implementation, and list of all 15 schools planned to be replaced/upgraded and are in construction or construction is imminent)

Discussion


Mr K Sayed (ANC) asked for an update on the Umyezo School in Grabouw and wanted to know if the Department was still experiencing problems within that community seeing that the situation was volatile. He also wanted to find out if the matter of non-placement of learners and over-crowded classrooms is being taken into consideration when the Department is planning infrastructure projects and what criteria are followed to decide on those infrastructure projects.

Mr Coetzee said the appointment of a new contractor to start construction is imminent. The concern is linked to infrastructure projects being planned there. The situation is still volatile because the community is in need of jobs, especially those related to infrastructure projects.

Ms McGlen added that the Department would remain on high alert to deal with the community. The proposed approach is to include all stakeholders because of lessons learnt in the past as soon as construction starts.

Mr Coetzee explained that the issue of over-crowding and non-placement of learners does play a part when planning for infrastructure. Infrastructure plans are based on enrollment data that is used annually to check for hotspots areas in terms of learner placement and infrastructure repairs.

Mr R Allen (DA) asked the two departments to provide insight on how contractors are selected for replacement school projects and preventative maintenance, and enquired if completed projects are taken into account when it comes to getting a new contractor.

Mr Coetzee said when the Department is planning for infrastructure; it looks at the existing enrollment numbers, capacity of schools in certain areas, expansion of facilities, and looks at building a new school as a last resort. For the need for mobile classrooms, it looks at its existing mobile schools in terms of learner progression at a particular school. As the grades progress, classrooms are then added to those schools to ensure learners are progressed and new ones are taken in at grade one. That is the first decision that is taken when rollouts of mobiles are done. He further indicated it is unfortunate sometimes because the Department does not always have land or space available within the communities it tries to serve. So, it would look at a provincial zone or property to start a mobile school to serve the needs of unplaced learners within the broader society. That is the criteria it looks at when deciding to help with mobile classrooms.

Mr Danielle Manuel, Deputy Director: Infrastructure Policies and Strategies, Western Cape Department of Transport & Public Works, explained that work done by a contractor in the past is always considered in the selection criteria. The Department always goes for an open tender when the process of selection is started for projects, then capacity abilities are assessed, and references checked for previous projects completed. The Department checks the list of National Treasury on restricted suppliers or tender defaulters. The Department has representations from various areas that sit in the different tender committees. Risks are addressed in these committees. Those are things considered for functionality assessments.

Mr F Christians (ACDP) commented that lots of schools were making demands for mobile classrooms because of over-crowding and unplaced learners. He then enquired how the Department was deciding on the roll-outs if there is an influx of learners in a certain area; wanted to understand if the Department does ever deviate on its infrastructure plans due to unforeseen circumstances.

Mr Coetzee stated the department tries not to deviate from its infrastructure plans even though it has to attend to short-term challenges. The plans get revised as new data becomes available. But this does not mean it ignores over-crowding and non-placement of learners. Part of the department’s planning is to find solutions to short-term problems. With long-term planning, it tries to be consistent.

Mr Sayed remarked it appeared that the non-placement of learners and over-crowding are viewed as short-term problems. This is a big problem that needs to be taken into consideration in long-term planning. He then wanted to understand the number of schools - primary and high schools - that would be opened this year and their locations. He asked the Department to respond in writing.

The Chairperson wanted to know if there would be increases in the number of mobile classrooms to be delivered to schools for the 2023 academic year just like in the academic year of 2022 and asked by what number that increase would be. She also asked if there would be room for expansion for most rural schools and others that accommodate learners from grade one to nine so that they take learners to grade 12 in order to accommodate over-crowding if the school grounds are sufficient for expanding.

Ms McGlen indicated that they have identified schools for mobile classroom expansion and where they are located. This is not a short-term response because they need to look at how this would be solved in the long term. The solution does not lie in increasing mobile classrooms, but they must try to increase permanent expansion in facilities in areas where it is possible. Areas with high demand become saturated. The Department has not compared numbers with the past years, but the numbers would almost be the same in certain areas to accommodate expansion and see when new schools could be built.

Minister Schafer said the intention, for now, is not to expand schools into combined ones, but to separate primary from high schools and create a new high school or primary school if the land is big enough. The Department does not want massively combined schools because education has not been completely solved.

Ms McGlen stated this means the Department is building high schools in close proximity to schools that go up to grade nine in view of land shortage.

The Chairperson asked to be updated on the project of building a high school in Piketberg.

Mr Coetzee reported that the need for a primary school is included in the long-term plans, but that has not been included in the MTEF. There have been discussions with the municipality on the possibility of availing suitable land for a high school as well though these projects are not included in the MTEF. But the high school matter has not been discussed yet.

Mr Allen suggested answers to his questions should also be furnished in writing as well, including the guidelines that have been mentioned. He then asked if in the last five years there have been cases where a contractor did not perform and was struck off the list of potential contractors.

The Chairperson wanted to know if the contractors who produce shoddy work are blacklisted because the Committee visited high schools in Veldrift and Steenberg that had defective maintenance. She asked what the monetary value of incurred costs is and how the Department plans to recover lost money from the contractors.

Mr Christians commented that every year there is an influx of learners and some of them are not placed. He asked if there is a programme in place to keep the learners up to date about classroom work; enquired if the Department is planning to close more schools because of financial issues and wanted to understand what the Department is doing with schools that have unutilised classrooms.

Ms McGlen said the districts do offer learning material to learners that have not been placed in a school. The kids have access to learning material. They are given learning packs. She indicated further the department does not close schools because of financial reasons, but close them when there is a low number of learners and the school is not viable to continue. Learners and staff get accommodated in nearby schools for better opportunities.

Minister Schafer explained that before a school is closed, certain considerations take place. The Department would consider if the school is on private property. That has become a problem for the Department. Some schools have been in church properties and the Department cannot spend government money on private property for maintenance. In that, the Department would respond in writing to detail what it was doing to unplaced learners when it comes to learning material and send the Committee learning pack materials.

Mr M Kama (ANC) wanted to find out if the 19 infrastructure projects that were affected during the 2020/21 financial year because ofCovid-19 would be completed during the 2021/22 period.

Ms McGlen explained some of the projects would not be completed in the next financial year, but that would depend on the nature of the project. The budget was cut by R740m (27%). As a result, some projects that were in planning had to be re-introduced in the budget in the following year. The budget would prioritise projects and some would be delayed by one year. If it is a new replacement school, it would be deferred to a new budget.

Mr Kama remarked that at Mbekweni in Paarl the Desmond Tutu school served as a high school and Ihlumelo was later introduced as a junior secondary school. Now the situation has changed because both schools have high school status. The Ihlumelo High School does not have sufficient space for matric examinations. It has to use another school or property for writing matric examinations. He warned that one must not wait for a crisis in order to provide quality education and infrastructure. We need to have infrastructure that suits the plans of the school when it was conceived.

Mr Coetzee reported there are many cases of schools in similar situations. The reason is adequate infrastructure was not provided to all these schools, even ablution facilities. The Department has to prioritise its budget to accommodate bloated learner numbers. Some of these schools are being bettered with the help of donors and the focus is on secondary schools because of the need for space to write matric examinations. Primary schools are also catered for as well.

Mr G Brinkhuis (Al-Jamah) asked what the plan of the Department was to eradicate asbestos schools because it poses a health risk to learners; enquired what work has been done to the Bontebok High School in Swellendam because since 2020 there has been an engineer’s report pointing out defects that could be a danger to learners and asked the Committee to be given an update on the high school project for Darling.

Ms McGlen stated that asbestos schools are a top priority for the Department. Some schools have an Asbestos component and the Department tried to do away with it, especially if it poses a health risk to learners. She then asked Mr Brinkhuis to forward the name of the school to the Department so that the matter could be dealt with speedily. Concerning Bontebok High school, the Department would submit a report to the Committee on what has been done and circumstances around the school.

Mr Coetzee reported that the Department has met with the Swartland Municipality last year about the high school project in Darling. Unfortunately, it could not be included in this year’s budget. The Moorreesburg facility would also be of assistance. The Darling Laerskool has been identified as having a vacant hostel facility that could be repurposed for the planned high school and would be reprioritised in terms of the budget soon.

Minister Schafer said the Darling high school project would be prioritised for the next financial year. A commitment has been made to the public already.

The Chairperson asked when the new school being built in Moorreesburg is going to be completed.

Ms Rene Kok, Chief Director: Education Infrastructure, Western Cape Department of Transport and Public Works, said the completion date for the Moorreesburg High school is 6 May 2022.

Mr Joggie Scholtz, Municipal Manager, Swartland Municipality, thanked the Committee for affording the municipality the opportunity to be part of deliberations about the infrastructure of schools in the Swartland Municipality. He also thanked the Minister for the commitment to building a high school in Darling. The Municipality has identified different sites for schools to address overcrowding. An EIA has been received for a suitable site where the new hospital would be built and there’s a possibility the school could be built there as well. The Municipality has approved the selling of the site to The Provincial Department of Public Works during 2021. Already there is progress in this regard.

Mr Michael Rangasamy, Swartland Municipality Speaker, stated that the engagement with the Committee has been fruitful, especially to hear that Darling High school would be prioritised. He said they have partnered with a company called MOS, which has built a private high school. The municipality is making use of the services of this company’s architect to work on the repurposing of the hostel. He indicated that he was happy to hear the Premier saying the budget has been made available for the proposed high school in Darling. It has been difficult for learners to be accepted in Malmesbury and other surrounding areas. There have been children who have not been accommodated in high schools, especially those from the farms who attended primary schooling.

Mr Tijmen van Essen, Swartland Municipality Mayor, said the request to have a high school in Darling started in 2009. It was withdrawn at some stage, but he is happy that it is now happening. He then wanted to know if the budget is in place for starting to build next year. He said the Atlantic schools were becoming dangerous for Darling learners.

Minister Schafer made it clear that projects were delayed because of budget constraints. She re-iterated that she has made a commitment to the building of schools in Darling. The planning is done by the Department, but for things to happen many processes have to be followed.

The Minister of Transport and Public Works, Dylan Mitchell, said his Department would respond in writing for concerns about contractors who produced shoddy work for infrastructure.

Resolutions

The Committee resolved that the Department should give the Committee feedback on learner transport and Bontebok school; blacklisting procedures for defaulting contractors and requirements for appointing a contractor; written response about the number of schools to be opened this year; and to invite the Department in all oversight visits and for the Committee to visit Alpine Primary in Mitchells Plain which has an environmental contest happening.

The meeting was adjourned.