Education needs R20bn for backlogs

MBOMBELA – The Mpumalanga Department of Education needs an estimated R20,8 billion to eradicate the province’s school infrastructure backlog by 2030.

This is according to the department’s infrastructure backlog implementation plan, dated April 2015.

According to the document schools face a shortage of classrooms or an absence of facilities which were never provided or have deteriorated to the point of structures being unsafe. Other schools have an oversupply of facilities.

Learners sometimes leave one school due to poor academic performance for another, which becomes overcrowded while the other is left with an oversupply of facilities.

In Ehlanzeni District Municipality (EDM) more schools require facilities while in the other three regions as many or more schools have an excess. In EDM 890 is required with 379 in excess and in the entire province, 3 081 is in excess and 3 369 is required.

Factors such as population movement and changing technological considerations contribute to the imbalance. The department notes that it is also looking into non-infrastructure solutions such as providing more scholar transport and merging schools and converting redundant classrooms into support facilities. School management also needs to improve.

However, the plan focuses on the provision of infrastructure. By January 2014 there were 1 776 ordinary and special public schools in Mpumalanga.

This number varies as schools are closed and merged and new ones registered. But of these 1 264 had water on site and 1 688 had electricity, There were 26 342 classrooms, 537 computer centres, 529 libraries, 378 laboratories and 411 grade R centres.

The department’s targets for December 2016 is appropriate water, sanitation and electricity supply, and elimination of inappropriate structures at all schools. To meet it, 82 schools need 70 per cent of their structures replaced, of which only two are in Ehlanzeni.

The total amount needed is R2,8 billion and has been made available – R242 million in the department of education’s 2015/16 budget and the balance in the 2016/17 budget.

By 2020 the department aims to supply all schools with appropriate fencing and grade R facilities as well as eliminate overcrowding. For this R4,8 billion is needed. By 2023 all schools are to have libraries and laboratories. R2,8 billion is needed for this. By 2030 appropriate sports facilities and schools halls will have been provided.

The main funding sources are the Education Infrastructure Grant and equitable share from provincial treasury. Other sources include other conditional grants, the Accelerated Schools Infrastructure Delivery Initiative, Mpumalanga Education Development Trust supported by partners like Vodacom and Eskom, as well as donations, such as from Lotto.

DA MPL Mr Anthony Benadie says the report shows that 92 per cent of all schools in Mpumalanga need between 11 per cent and 100 per cent of their structures replaced.

“This is alarming considering that just 10 years ago, former MEC for education, Mr Siphosezwe Masango stated during the policy and budget speech in April 2005 that the infrastructure backlog was estimated at R3,3 billion.

Another challenge discussed in the report is the need for 35 196 toilet units at various schools across Mpumalanga. More than 19 000 of these units have never been provided while 15 792 exist but are in unsuitable conditions.”

“As a whole, this report paints a bleak picture for learners in Mpumalanga who have to try to succeed despite government’s inability to provide safe and secure schools.”

Mr Jasper Zwane, spokesman for education, did not respond to a request for comment.