The North West MEC for Education, Viola Motsumi says more than R1 billion will be used to address infrastructure challenges at schools by renovating or building new structures.
Motsumi tabled her department’s R20.5 billion budget vote for the 2023/24 financial year at the provincial legislature in Mahikeng on Tuesday.
However, opposition parties at the North West Legislature, have rejected the Department’s budget vote.
The EFF’s Primrose Bogatsu accused the department of failing to implement its budget.
“How do we expect to table new plans moving ahead, if history has left so many blank pages related to the materialisation of programmes, especially those related to infrastructure,” Bogatsu said.
The DA’s Winston Rabotapi, said the budget is not enough for challenges in the education sector.
“Considering the plethora of concerns and problems in the North West schools, this budget is insufficient to say the list. The issues such as old hazardous classrooms and school buildings that have asbestos structures, while others’ electricity has been terminated. As well as teacher shortages, overcrowded classrooms and schools without access to water and sanitation are only a few of the mild challenges,” said Rabotapi.
Last year, The South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) found 60 schools across the North West with poor infrastructure. The Commission said even though it initially received complaints about six schools, its scope was widened when it identified more schools during their assessment.
According to Motsumi the R 1 297 549 000 allocated to infrastructure development budget will be spent on the provision and improvement of the quality of school physical infrastructure in the province.
“We have to honour the obligation, as a department, to provide a conducive learning environment in our schools that is devoid of both physical intimidation and emotional frustration. Our school buildings should provide learners and teachers with the freedom of interaction, safety, dignity and respect for effective learning and teaching to unfold.
“In the current financial year, we intend to use the above budget specifically for new and replacement school buildings, additions, refurbishment and upgrades to dilapidated buildings, maintenance and repairs, which will of course, include storm-damaged schools.
“It is also worth mentioning that we are in the process of eradicating suspect asbestos structures in about 114 schools in the province. As a matter of fact, the project has already started with the testing and verification of the asbestos materials.
“The learners in the affected schools were decanted to suitable alternative accommodations. Motlotlegi Mmusakgotla, the plight of learners of Lorwetleng Primary Schools and Tlotlang Thuto Secondary School remains one of our biggest concerns.
“We have taken a deliberate and conscious decision to put an end to the longstanding dilemma affecting the construction of the two schools in this financial year,” Motsumi said.
Motsumi said the 2023/2024 budget allocation per programme is as follows:
- 1. Administration R 981 960 000.
- 2. Public Ordinary Schools Education R 15 021 810 000.
- 3. Independent School Subsidies R 50 866 000.
- 4. Public Special School Education R 904 898 000.
- 5. Early Childhood Development R 979 188 000.
- 6. Infrastructure Development R 1 297 549 000.
- 7. Examination and Education-Related Services R 1 339 254 000 with the whole total of R 20 575 525 000.
