Reiger Park Primary School officially relocated to temporary facilities in a section of Oosrand School of Specialisation on July 22 as part of a planned 12 to 14-month rebuild.
The project will replace the school’s ageing asbestos classrooms, which posed a health and safety risk to both learners and staff.
Principal Martin Green expressed relief that the long-awaited project is finally underway.
“Teaching and learning continues while construction progresses. When I became principal in 2014, after being with the school since 2005, our learners and staff were using unsafe asbestos classrooms, offices and ablution blocks. This has been a long journey, but it is a necessary step to give our learners and educators the environment they deserve,” he said.
Established in 1964, Reiger Park Primary is a non-fee-paying school funded by the Gauteng Department of Education. While this support ensures access to basic resources, it has limited the school’s ability to improve its infrastructure independently.
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Green explained that, together with the School Management Team (SMT), educators and the School Governing Body (SGB), they worked closely with authorities to include the school in the province’s asbestos eradication programme.
“By 2020, the Department of Infrastructure and Development produced the Design Development Report outlining plans for the new school,” he said.
In September 2023, inspections by the Department of Employment and Labour revealed non-compliance issues, which resulted in the closure of 12 classrooms.
“Despite these challenges, our staff remained committed to maintaining learning standards. Their dedication and resilience during this period were remarkable,” Green said.
According to him, the temporary move to Oosrand required careful planning to accommodate the school’s large learner population.
“Initially, there were concerns that our school would not fit into the available space. Thanks to the cooperation of Mr Arendse, his staff and the SGB, the move was successful. Their support has been vital and underscores the importance of community collaboration in education,” he said.
The Department of Education provided prefabricated classrooms for the temporary site, helping ensure continuity in teaching and learning.
While at the temporary facilities, the school aims to create a welcoming environment. Green encouraged community members to assist where possible, including donating or helping with air conditioners and other practical needs.
Looking ahead, the rebuilt Reiger Park Primary will offer a safe, modern and inspiring learning environment.
“For our learners, it means access to a facility that nurtures their potential. For educators, it provides the resources to teach effectively and with pride. For the community, it is a symbol of progress, perseverance and justice, proof that even in historically disadvantaged settings, persistence can turn a decades-old promise into reality,” Green said.
He also called on businesses, partners and community members to support the school’s vision by donating ICT equipment, digital resources or technical expertise.
To help the school, contact 011 910 2060.
The Boksburg Advertiser contacted the Department of Education for comment but had not received a response by the time of publication.
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