Education Dep to eradicate pit latrines in 507 schools

When tabling the Department of Education budget vote speech in the Legislative chamber in Lebowakgomo last Tuesday, MEC Polly Boshielo made a commitment that her portfolio assisted by the Department of Basic Education would in the current financial year replace pit latrines with proper sanitation facilities in 507 schools across the province.
She stated that the infrastructure challenges in schools range from inappropriate, hazardous and unhygienic sanitation facilities, lack of safe running drinking water and proper security fences, dilapidated and storm damaged buildings, and new residential settlements without schools resulting in massive overcrowding in existing neighbouring institutions. Boshielo outlined that there are 507 schools still using pit toilets in Limpopo and that in this financial year the national department will be providing proper ablution facilities for 300 institutions and her office would provide for the remaining 207 schools. There will be no talk of pit latrines in the next financial year, Boshielo pledged.
“The budget allocated for infrastructure development in this financial year is R1,05 billion. This will cater for the building of new schools – inclusive of the four special schools namely Asiphumelele Special School in Sekhukhune, Rivoni School for the Blind in Vhembe, Pfunanani Special School in Mopani and Mhinga Special School in Vhembe. The budget will also cover upgrading, renovations and maintenance including the building of new classrooms,” Boshielo explained.
She reminded Limpopo residents that the 2019/20 budget for the department is a total of R32,291 billion made up of R26 billion for Compensation of Employees, R2,8 billion for Goods and Services, R2,5 billion for Transfers and Subsidies, and R1 billion for Capital Assets. According to Boshielo, the department has allocated R75 million to procure tablets, interactive boards and mobile science laboratories for schools – especially those in the rural areas. The initiatives will assist in bringing learners in Limpopo on par with those in other provinces in information and communications technology skills and the implementation of e-Learning, Boshielo concluded.

Story: ENDY SENYATSI
>>endy@observer.co.za