Page 6 - ECDoE_Planning and Delivery of School Infrastructure_Status Report_Jan2020

Background and introduction
Improving the standard of education, especially basic education, is a key priority for the South African government. Education has the power to transform societies and the lives of individuals, enabling them to become economically active, escape poverty and make a meaningful contribution to the country’s economy and the future success of the nation. However, the effective provision of education is dependent on the correct infrastructure being in place - it is extremely dif cult to try and teach without the correct structures (buildings), equipment, and other resources being available.
The mandate of the Eastern Cape Department of Education (ECDoE) is to provide learners with opportunities to become productive and responsible citizens through quality basic education. One of the key initiatives managed by the Department is the schools’ infrastructure programme. The purpose of this programme is to provide and maintain adequate infrastructure facilities, based on a data-driven infrastructure plan for schools and non- schools, as required by law. Facilities are provided in a manner which is consistent with the strategic goals of the Department and adheres to the Infrastructure Delivery Management System (IDMS) processes.
The nature and scope of the Department’s infrastructure programme must be seen against the background of the current state of its assets and the extent of the schools’ infrastructure needs. The Department’s xed assets include some 5 500 operational schools, serving approximately 1,838 million learners across 12 education districts.
Historically, the Eastern Cape has struggled with an under-resourced, inadequate, and dilapidated education
infrastructure that has made it dif cult to provide the required standard of education to all learners in the province. The state of schools in the province vary in condition from very poor to excellent. Over the past few years though, the Department has invested signi cant resources in its infrastructure programme in an ongoing effort to raise the standard of schools in the province.
Infrastructure programme
Purpose
To provide and maintain infrastructure facilities for schools and non-schools as required by law.
Strategic objective
To develop and implement a data driven infrastructure plan which includes new schools, extensions to existing schools and maintenance plans for all schools.
Programme focus areas
• Provide public ordinary schools with water and electricity supply, and sanitation facilities.
• Build or provide for additional classrooms in existing public ordinary schools.
• Build additional specialist rooms in public ordinary schools.
• Build new schools.
• Build new or additional Grade R classrooms.
• Build hostels.
• Conduct scheduled maintenance projects in
existing schools.
Condition of schools in the province
Rating
C5 C4 C3 C2 C1 % of schools
currently in this category 5% 42% 39% 10% 4%
5%
4% 10%
42%
39%
C1: Very Poor C2: Poor
C3: Fair
C4: Good
C5: Excellent
Very Poor
Risk index: Many disruptions to service capability, some risk to health and safety or property. High-cost implication. Repair cost 21,6% - 50% of replacement cost.
Excellent
No effect on service capability. No risk. Repair cost less than 2,5% of replacement cost.
Good
The probability of risk to health and safety or property is slight. Low cost implications. Repair cost 2,5% – 6,4% of replacement cost.
Fair
Risk index: Frequent inconvenience to operations. Some risk to health and safety or property. Medium cost implications. Repair cost 6,4% - 21,6% of
replacement cost.
Poor
Risk index: Accommodation is unusable, immediate high risk to security, health, and safety or property. Signi cant cost impact. Repair cost greater than 50% of replacement cost, should be replaced.
6 | Planning and delivery of Public School Infrastructure - Status Report January 2020