Question NW125 to the Minister of Basic Education ( to ask the Minister of Basic Education
22 March 2023 - NW125
Ngcobo, Mr SL to ask the Minister of Basic Education ( to ask the Minister of Basic Education
1) Considering the challenges such as faulty and disrepair school infrastructure, teacher shortages, overcrowded learning spaces coupled with the country’s ongoing electricity crisis that will continue to plague some inland schools for the 2023 school year, what measures has her department put in place to address the specified challenges, especially the issue of infrastructure and overcrowding in rural schools; (2) whether her department has considered building satellite schools; if not, why not, if so, what are the relevant details?
Reply:
1.
- The Accelerated School Infrastructure Delivery Initiative (ASIDI programme) was launched in 2012. The inappropriate material sub-programme of ASIDI focussed on the replacement of schools made entirely of inappropriate materials. At present, there are 331 schools on this sub-programme. We are proud to announce that 315 such schools have now been replaced.
- The water supply sub-programme of ASIDI focussed on schools that reportedly had no water supply. At present, there are 1272 schools on this programme. We are proud to announce that water supply projects at 1259 have progressed to practical completion.
- The electricity supplies sub-programme of ASIDI focussed on schools that reportedly had no electricity supply. At present, there are 373 schools on this programme. We are proud to announce that all 373 have now been served with electricity.
- The sanitation sub-programme of ASIDI focussed on schools that reportedly had no toilets. At present, there are 1053 schools on this sub-programme. We are proud to announce that all 1053 such schools have now been served with appropriate toilets.
- The Sanitation Appropriate For Education (SAFE programme) was launched in 2018. This programme focussed on schools’ dependent on basic pit toilets. The initial scope was 3898 schools. As with ASIDI, there were some small and unviable schools that were closed, while other schools were added to the list as better information became available. At present, there are 3357 schools on this sub-programme. We are proud to announce that 2474 of the 3357 schools have now been served with appropriate toilets.
- Between ASIDI and SAFE, about 55 000 appropriate toilets were constructed at schools. The sanitation projects at the remaining schools on the SAFE programme are all scheduled for completion in 2023/24.
- A high level analysis of growth in learners’ numbers revealed the following:
- FS : Constant growth of 1% over last 10 years
- EC : Average decline of 0.5% over last 10 years (1% decline over last 5 years)
- GP : Average growth of 2.5% over last 10 years (2% growth over last 5 years)
- KZN : Virtually no growth over last 10 year
- LP : Average growth of 0.5% over last 10 years (declining)
- MP : Constant growth of 1% over last 10 years
- NC : Constant growth of 1% over last 10 years
- NW : Average growth of 0.5% over last 10 years (declining)
- WC : Average growth of 2% over last 10 years (2.5% growth over last 5 years)
- Refinement of the analysis are ongoing to differentiate between:
- Over-crowding in Primary schools & secondary schools
- Over-crowding in Rural schools & urban schools
- A high-level analysis of the backlog in classrooms was determined based on the following:
- Learner numbers from EMIS (2021)
- Existing classroom number provided by Provincial Departments
- Preliminary indications are the following:
- More than 8 000 schools, there seems to be a shortage of classrooms.
- A total of 70 000 additional classrooms may be required.
- A capital investment of R44 billion may be required (Based on conventional implementation strategies).
2. The Hon Member will have to clarify what satellite schools are.