Page 17 - ECDoE_Planning and Delivery of School Infrastructure_Status Report_Jan2020

The rationalisation of the current ±5 279 schools in the Eastern Cape is one of the most urgent and critical elements of the new SDM. Provisioning of quality education is the main rationale for rationalisation of small and unviable schools. The second objective is improved nancial ef ciency and re-distribution of resources to where they are most needed.
In 2016 a total of 2 077 schools in the Province Cape were categorised as small and unviable, and in September 2016 the Department issued notices of intent to rationalise to 1 902. The 1 902 schools that received the section 33 letters are indicated in the image below with the local municipality boundaries.
The process of rationalisation of schools is complex therefore the rationalisation process will be informed by a provincial education plan, based on needs assessment and emerging trends. Infrastructure revitalisation and development will be aligned to the rationalisation process. The focus will be on building a number of large, viable schools with hostels in the rural areas, revitalisation of township schools and building day schools in new urban settlements thus decreasing the need to transport learners.
Small and unviable schools with buildings made of unsuitable materials or mud structures, that have no potential for growth, will not be rebuilt. These schools will be provided with temporary structures including ablution
Figure: Map of Eastern Cape Schools to be rationalised
facilities during the process of rationalisation.
The outcome of rationalisation per district are shown graphically below. The realigning of these schools with the current system of Primary and Secondary schools is under way. However, this has signi cant infrastructure implications and will still take many years to address entirely. These implications for current and future infrastructure programmes have to support the outcomes of the process, but as re-alignment forms a signi cant departure point for future planning it needs to
1 902 schools
to be rationalised
Between 2012 – Nov 2019:
1, 040 schools closed (organic & planned closures) of which in the period under Rationalisation (CSLP)
Between 2017 – Nov 2019: 537 closed (planned closures)
be stated up front.
A task team has been established to manage the process and operates under the leadership of a dedicated project manager and multi-disciplinary team who have been appointed speci cally for this purpose. The technical sub-committee of SRRASCOM using the CSLPs has determined the re-alignment and/or rationalisation of schools as summarised in the following section under the District pro le.
17 | Planning and delivery of Public School Infrastructure - Status Report January 2020