News

Aerorand awaits its promised school

Today, the Democratic Alliance (DA) conducted an inspection at the site where Aerorand Primary School will be built in Middelburg.

January 8, 2019

Jane Sithole (DA Mpumalanga Premier Candidate) 1 minute read

Internet image.

The school, budgeted at R44 million was promised by former Education MEC, Reginah Mhaule in 2015 and was expected to become operational in 2016 but the tender to construct the school was only issued last year due to multiple delays.

While the DA welcomes the fact that soon, a new school will be built that will help to alleviate the problem of overcrowding in schools, it is clear that the Department of Education does not take the issue seriously.

https://www.facebook.com/DAmpumalanga/videos/283733312345126/?t=4

Construction of the school has not yet begun and only a mobile office container is on site.

According to the Department, a part of the initial R44 million budgeted for the construction of the school was reprioritised in the 2015/16 financial year to address the provision of water, sanitation and electricity in other schools. Despite this, Mpumalanga still lags behind in ensuring that all schools have adequate water, sanitation and electricity.

Schools that are overcrowded or lack basic amenities cannot provide quality education to learners and this has an effect on the number of learners who actually matriculate and go on to study further or find gainful employment.

The DA will continue to monitor the construction of this school as well as the provision of basic amenities to all schools in Mpumalanga because a quality education is the key to ensuring that learners can secure a bright future for themselves.