Residents angry over proposed new school
Were residents informed about the proposed new school in Glenvista extension four?
GLENVISTA – A new school all set to be put up on the corner of Laubscher Road and Stegman Street, Glenvista extension four, has got residents up in arms because they were never informed about the hideous structure which will be a school for learners at the beginning of 2015.
“There has been no notice erected on the proposed site and we certainly haven’t been informed by anyone about this new school.
“According to the article in the Comaro CHRONICLE, page 3, November 12 (Rumours of another school in Glenvista) the school is going to be ready-made concrete classrooms which look like prison blocks. If another school is to go up, why can’t a ‘proper’ school be built,” said an angry resident.
“The DA in Gauteng notes that 32 new schools are currently under or proposed for construction in the province for the 2015 academic year.
“This was revealed during a school readiness presentation made to the Gauteng Education Committee two weeks ago. Unfortunately, the department did not consult with many communities before embarking on the building process,” said said Khume Ramulifho, MPL DA Gauteng, Shadow MEC: Education.
“In fact, in response to DA questions on planned construction, the department indicated that it was only going to build 10 new schools in the 2014/15 financial year.
“These now unforeseen extra 22 schools have resulted in many communities not buying-in to the construction and by-laws being transgressed.
“Many areas, such as Glenvista and Sunninghill, are now rejecting the proposed construction in their areas, and in one case, a protected wetland area is being cleared for a school.
“It is vitally important to address the growing demand for quality school facilities in Gauteng. However, this cannot be done without proper consultation with communities and other stakeholders, or to the detriment of municipal by-laws.
“A blanket approach to fixing the education system through simply building new schools is also not the only solution.”
She went on to say, “The DA urges Gauteng Education MEC, Panyaza Lesufi, to assess the needs of existing schools in order to provide them with the necessary facilities to become centres of excellence for the communities they already serve.
“I will also be submitting questions to the MEC to determine where the budget for these extra 22 new schools was taken from.”
Ward 23 Cllr, Paul Smit said: “School demands for primary and high schools are high throughout the South and this school is to be allocated for a primary school. However, I was informed of this school at the beginning of November, when according to 702 Radio last week, it was approved by the Gauteng Legislature in May of this year.
“While I am in no way opposed to new schools being built I am not nor have I ever been in favour of temporary schools. I opposed the exact same thing in Kibler Park in 2010/11, resulting in a brick and mortar high school being approved for that area, and being built to address the backlog of schools due to the Department of Education’s lack of planning when they have been aware for a number of years of the new building developments that have taken place in the South.
“No objection was made because the Department never approached the residents at any point. They approached me two weeks ago which is when I began talking to the Comaro CHRONICLE as this was the only method open to me to notify the entire community.
*We’ll keep you updated as soon as we find out more information.
