TIGHTLY chained gates are what greeted children when they arrived at a new primary school in Margate last week.
It has taken contractors roughly two years to build the desperately needed school in Margate’s Extension Three. However, today the beautiful face-brick school is, to all intents and purposes complete, yet it stands deserted.
The school is to be named ‘Hibiscus Coast Primary School’, although this has not been officially confirmed.
Work on the new school, which apparently cost R40-million to build so far, came to a grinding halt a few months ago.
It is rumoured that the department of education apparently stopped all infrastructure funding as there was no more funding available.
According to a source, who wanted to remained anonymous, the contractors will be only be paid in the new financial year in order to continue the work.
The source also indicated that it is unlikely that the school would open this year.
These issues, and many other questions, were not answered or confirmed by the education department before going to print. This was despite numerous emails and phone calls.
Kiru Naidoo, spokesman for the ministry of human settlements and public works KwaZulu-Natal (KZN), confirmed that public works was not involved with the school.
“Our understanding is that the department of education used another implementing agent. The detailed questions are therefore best answered by the education department,” he said.
Mr Naidoo explained that public works was the implementing agent for Margate Middle School, which is a stone’s throw from the primary school.
“The project cost about R28 million. It has been completed and we understand it has been operational for more than a year,” said Mr Naidoo.
Last Thursday, an on site inspection revealed a deserted school with not a contractor in sight.
Angry parents met with ward councillor Jean Schmidt on the roadside outside the school gates.
They had walked more than 30 kilometres to register their children at another Margate school last year.
Julia Sibanda, an upset parent, said she felt terrible for her son who has to travel very far to get to his current school – that was the reason for enrolling him at a closer school.
She also added that it was very costly to pay for transport.
“This is badly affecting our children and the parents,” she added.
Another parent said she had even travelled to the education department but was informed that it knew nothing about the school.
“They told us last year that the school would be open,” said another frustrated mother.
“We have been here every day since Monday but nobody is here to tell us what is going on,” said another parent, who didn’t want to be named.
Another parent sadly said they still hope every day that the school will miraculously open.
Cllr Schmidt said he was under the impression, as informed by the department, that the school would be opening this year, as he was never contacted to inform otherwise.
“The department didn’t advise me or even liaise with the community regarding the school not opening,” he said.
Cllr Schmidt said he believed the other reason for the school not opening was that there was no interim temporary principal appointed, and no furniture.
He said that these excuses were not good enough, as there are hundreds of retired principals who could take up the position in the interim.
“How can the department spend so much to build the school but now in its final stages run out of money?” he questioned.
He said this was the consequence of poor planning, shifted deadlines and delays which had left pupils not enrolled in any school although the school year had already begun.
“We need to get these pupils learning as they are our future,” he said.
To date, Cllr Schmidt has not heard anything further from the education department.
“Another concern is that the school, which is now standing empty, could be vandalised,” he added.
Cllr Schmidt advised parents to register their children in schools in the area. “Surrounding schools have been told to accept the pupils,” he added.
He said the first priority was to get these pupils into schools so they can start learning.
“We need answers from the department,” he said.
