Mobile classrooms to ease overcrowding at schools could soon be a thing of the past.
North West education MEC Wendy Matsemela confirmed that the Council of Education Ministers (CEM) had issued a directive to heads of departments of provincial education departments to stop procuring them.
The CEM comprises the nine education MECs, basic education minister Angie Motshekga and her deputy, Reginah Mhaule.
On Thursday, Matsemela appeared before the SA Human Rights Commission (SAHRC),, which is probing allegations of inadequate infrastructure at schools in the province.
She said the aim was to have “brick-and-mortar” schools across the country instead.
“Honestly, we really don’t want to see mobile classrooms in our schools in the Republic of South Africa.”
She said these structures were cheaper to procure, “but quite expensive for delivery”.
Honestly, we really don’t want to see mobile classrooms in our schools in the Republic of South Africa.
— Wendy Matsemela, North West education MEC
According to figures released by the department of basic education on February 26, the nine provincial education departments needed to provide 5,222 mobile classrooms to overcrowded schools, but only 3,111 had been supplied.
Schools in North West needed 523 mobile classrooms, but had received only 397.
Matsemela said because education was an apex priority, “the curriculum needs to be discharged under a conducive environment through teaching and learning”.
“Honestly, we need to dignify ... everyone who is within that environment through the infrastructure that is quite acceptable in the North West province. The infrastructure that is necessary for education must be in good condition.”
Acting chief director for infrastructure Shena Makwela said they were informed by the department of basic education that there would be a moratorium on the procurement of mobile classrooms from next year.
“If we are able to procure mobile classrooms we will have to make a special request to the department of basic education to buy them.”
He said mobile classrooms, which had a lifespan of about 20 years, cost about R240,000 each, excluding transport, compared with a brick-and-mortar structure that cost R500,000.
Makwela said they identified 108 schools that may contain asbestos and that R30m was budgeted in the financial year starting next month to remove it.
“Condition assessments will be conducted to determine whether these schools have asbestos and not just cement board as part of the construction.”
He said condition assessments of all 1,485 schools in the province, a legal requirement, would have to be completed by March next year.
This assessment had to be done every five years.
“A list of contractors qualified to remove asbestos has been compiled.”
Makwela said the focus for the coming financial year was to eliminate the product from classrooms and toilets.
“Not all of the 108 schools with asbestos have been cordoned off. As soon as they receive mobile classrooms, we cordon them off and learners move to the mobile classrooms.”
The commission heard how almost R347m from the education infrastructure grant for April 2018 to March 2020 was forfeited “because of challenges related to slow spending”.
In a presentation to the SAHRC, the department said it had replaced 19 schools in the past four years and was replacing another 31.
Since 2018 it had built 13 new schools.
“The reasons for not renovating all schools in a poor state of repair is budget limitation and availability of technical and supply chain management staff in the department.”
Up until the date of the first sitting, the department had not given us specific details of the measures taken to address infrastructure challenges.
— Osmond Mngomezulu, SAHRC North West
According to the presentation, the province faced major challenges in trying to attract professionals to key position for extended periods.
“Due to personnel shortages in infrastructure and supply chain management, the department is reliant on implementing agents, which often fail the department.”
Several schools made presentations during the first leg of the hearings from March 2 to 4, highlighting concerns about dilapidated buildings, asbestos roofing and poor sanitation.
The SAHRC’s North West provincial office manager, Osmond Mngomezulu, said the investigation into allegations of inadequate infrastructure in public schools followed numerous complaints.
He said the inquiry sought to establish the prevalence and root causes of inadequate school infrastructure.
“Up until the date of the first sitting, the department had not given us specific details of the measures taken to address infrastructure challenges.”
He said once investigations were completed, the commission would issue a report with binding findings and recommendations.
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