Question NW1074 to the Minister of Basic Education to ask the Minister of Basic Education
06 April 2023 - NW1074
Nodada, Mr BB to ask the Minister of Basic Education to ask the Minister of Basic Education
Whether her department reached the target to provide 3 898 schools with appropriate sanitation facilities through the Sanitation Appropriate for Education Initiative on 31 March 2022; if not, (a) why not, (b) what number of projects are still outstanding, (c) which schools’ facilities have not been completed, (d) on what date is it envisaged that each school project will be completed and (e) what type of sanitation facilities and/or toilets do the schools currently have; if so, what (i) type of facility and/or toilets will be provided for each school and (ii) costs are associated with each project?
Reply:
The 3898 schools on the SAFE programme have not been provided with appropriate sanitation facilities by 31 March 2022.
a) The Provincial Departments made several changes to the list. This may be due to the rationalisation of small & unviable schools, or due to further detailed assessments. The initial number of school assessed to be dependent on BASIC pit toilets, was 3 898. This number has been amended as more detailed information became available. Some schools were removed from the list, and other schools were added to the list. Even in 2022 and 2023, new schools were added to the SAFE Initiative. After revision, the current number of schools on the SAFE programme is 3 397.
b) Of these 3 397 schools, sanitation projects at 2 489 schools have already progressed to Practical Completion with either water-borne or dry sanitation solutions; resulting in 908 schools remaining in the SAFE programme.
c) A list of the 908 schools can be made available.
d) The outstanding 908 sanitation projects are scheduled for completion during the 2023/24 financial year.
e) All the schools that were part of the 3 397 schools, that were part of the SAFE programme, had BASIC PIT TOILETS. As stated above, some of these schools received flush toilets (where there is sustainable water supply), and dry sanitation solution |(where there is water scarcity).
(i) Among the remaining 908 SAFE projects, schools with sustainable water supply, may receive flush toilets; and schools without a sustainable water supply, will in general receive VENTILATED IMPROVED PIT TOILETS, that conform to the requirements of SANS 10400 Q. We are working with the Water Research Commission to pilot other innovative technologies, which included closed-circuit flush toilets.
(ii) Average construction cost per school, is in the order of R2.4 million, including VAT, the demolition of basic pit toilets, all earthworks, building works, and the construction of walkways and retaining walls.