Question NW1162 to the Minister of Basic Education
24 May 2016 - NW1162
Lovemore, Ms AT to ask the Minister of Basic Education
(1)Whether any audits of infrastructure shortcomings and needs have been conducted at Lingcom Primary School in Graaff-Reinet in the Eastern Cape; if not, why not; if so, (a) when were such audits conducted and (b) what were the findings in each case; (2) whether any infrastructural parts of the school are considered to be unsafe; if not, why not; if so, (3) whether any plans have been put in place to effect infrastructural (a) repairs and/or (b) improvements at the specified school; if not, (i) why not and (ii) when is it expected that the specified plans will be put in place; if so, (aa) what are the full details of the infrastructural aspects that will be addressed, (bb) what amount will the planned work cost and (cc) what are the details of the time line covering the period from commencement to the completion of the planned infrastructural upgrades; (4) whether any budget allocations have been made to cover the envisaged costs of infrastructural repairs and/or improvements; if not, how will the specified repairs and/or improvements be funded; if so, what are the relevant details?
Reply:
1. (a) Lingcom Primary School in Graaff-Reinet in the Eastern Cape has 683 learners and was assessed on the 03 July 2015. (b) The assessments conducted indicate that the school has access to basic services (water, sanitation and power supply), however it is entirely constructed from inappropriate materials (asbestos) and there is a need to replace the structures built out of inappropriate materials.
2. The DBE considers all schools built out of inappropriate material (mud, asbestos, metal and wood) as unsafe, this is in line with the Regulations Relating to Minimum Uniform Norms and Standards that were promulgated in November 2013.
3. (a)(b)(i)(ii) The condition assessment undertaken was meant to ascertain what the infrastructural needs of the school and developed a scope of works for the required interventions. The school has been placed on the new and replacement category programme by the Eastern Cape Department of Education which entails replacing all buildings built out inappropriate material for the implementation during the 2016/17 and 2017/18 financial year.
(bb) The estimated cost of replacing the structures built out of inappropriate materials at is R27 million. This amount includes professional fees and contigiencies as at the date that the school was assessed and this is subject to escalation on the construction materials.
(cc) The project is currently at advanced planning stagess and is scheduled to go through
procurement and is anticipated to commence on site towards the end of 2016 and completion is anticipated to be 18 months after commencement on site.
4. The school has been prioritised in the Provincial infrastructure programme that is funded through the Education Infrastructure Grant (EIG) and the project will be funded fully to bring the school line with the requirements of the Norms and Standards.