ATC141022: Report of the Portfolio Committee on Basic Education on the Official Handover of the Lower Mpako Senior Primary School in Mthatha, Eastern Cape, dated 21 October 2014

Report of the Portfolio Committee on Basic Education on the Official Handover of the Lower Mpako Senior Primary School in Mthatha , Eastern Cape, dated 21 October 2014.

The Portfolio Committee on Basic Education, having participated in the official handover of the Lower Mpako Senior Primary School in Mthatha , Eastern Cape on 1 August 2014, reports as follows:

1. Introduction

1.1 A delegation of the Portfolio Committee on Basic Education undertook a visit to participate in the official handover of the Lower Mpako Senior Primary School in Mthatha , Eastern Cape on Friday, 1 August 2014.

1.2 The delegation comprised the following members of the Portfolio Committee on Basic Education: Hon N Gina MP (ANC) (Chairperson), Hon N Mokoto MP (ANC) (Whip), Hon A Lovemore MP (DA) and Hon C Majeke MP (UDM).

1.3 The delegation from the Ministry of Basic Education included Mr D Ngobeni: Head of Special Projects and Mr M Dintsi : Deputy Director, Physical Planning.

1.4 Members of staff who formed part of the delegation included Mr D Bandi (Content Advisor), Mr L Brown (Committee Secretary) and Ms S Ntabeni (Committee Assistant).

2. Background

The Accelerated Schools Infrastructure Initiative (ASIDI) is a national programme that aims to eradicate and replace inappropriate school infrastructure in the country, such as mud school buildings and other unsafe structures. ASIDI also aims to ensure that all schools have access to basic services such as water, sanitation and electricity. The Schools Infrastructure Backlog Grant (SIBG) introduced in the 2011/12 financial year, funds the ASIDI programme.

The first phase of the programme, which commenced in January 2012, targeted the building of 49 schools to replace mud structures. The first completed school, Mpatiswa Primary in Libode District was officially handed over by the President of the Republic of South Africa, His Excellency Mr J G Zuma on 2 ^nd October 2012. During the handover ceremony, the President directed that Ministers , Deputy Ministers and Members of the Eastern Cape Executive Committee convened handover ceremonies in every respective community to officially handover schools to communities. The President reiterated that the envisaged ceremonies afforded Government the opportunity to demonstrate to the country and the people of the Eastern Cape the strides made in addressing infrastructure backlogs.

The handover ceremonies had indeed restored dignity and faith amongst the communities, especially since the state-of-the-art schools had been built and were being handed over. The handover ceremonies had been dubbed the “One-School-A-Week” programme. The programme was launched on the 17 ^th of July 2013 as part of the celebration of Madiba’s 95 ^th birthday.

The Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on Basic Education, Hon N Gina MP, was requested to participate in the programme by presiding over the official handover of the Lower Mpako Senior Primary School in the Mthatha Education District on Friday, 1 August 2014.

3. Briefing Session with the Ministry of Basic Education – Mr D Ngobeni

The Ministry of Basic Education (DBE) welcomed and appreciated the participation of the Portfolio Committee in the official handover of the Lower Mpako Senior Primary School. The delegation received a brief background on the school to be handed over and the “One-School-A-Week” school handover programme. The primary school was the 48 ^th school out of 49 that was being handed over. The Department still had one school to handover in the Province the following week in Port St Johns . The programme would continue in the Western Cape where more schools were being completed for final handover ceremonies.

The Department spent R 16.478 million on the school. The Lower Mpako Senior Primary School was 99.9 percent complete with learners occupying the school already. With the building and renovations completed, the school boasted four renovated and 10 new classrooms with a new Administration Block. The school also had a Science Laboratory, Multi-purpose hall, library, Grade R Centre and Kitchen facilities. The Department had purchased and supplied the school with 27 laptop computers with various educational programmes and software loaded. Four of the laptop computers were for administrative use by staff while the rest were able to be moved on trolleys to various classrooms at the school for utilisation by learners and educators.

All classrooms, administration block, kitchen, laboratory and multi-purpose hall were fully equipped with the necessary furniture, appliances and apparatus.

4. Official Handover of the Lower Mpako Senior Primary School – Hon N Gina MP

On route to the Lower Mpako Senior Primary school, the delegation visited the Vulindlela Senior Primary School that was handed over on a previous occasion. The delegation was taken on a walk-about and site-visit of the school and buildings.

At the Lower Mpako Senior Primary School the delegation held a briefing session with District Officials, local Traditional Leaders, Principal, School Governing Body, Union and other stakeholders on Government’s investment in the school to be handed over. The delegation was taken on a site-visit and walk-about of the school before the official handover ceremony. During the handover ceremony, Hon N Gina MP in her keynote address, urged members of the community, teachers and learners to take ownership of the school and look after its facilities and resources. This was followed by the official unveiling of the plaque which concluded proceedings.