REOPENING OF SCHOOLS @KASIBCNEWS

The 2025 school year begins in earnest, inspired by the outstanding performance of the class of 2024. This feat is the work and investment of the ANC which elevated education on the apex of its agenda as a priority of government during the last five years based on the ANC election manifesto.

This is the massive feat of 30 years of democracy championed by all role players in the educational space.   The state of education is on the right quality growth path, necessitating a collaborative effort by the school governing bodies, communities and parents to ensure the safety of learners, nutritional school programme, school environment cleanliness, scholar transport safety and stationery for quality state of readiness. 

The equality and quality gap between urban and rural schools, affording and improvised schools, learners on social grants, learners from poor and child-headed households is gradually closing by implementing pro-poor policies to ensure universal access and equality in our education system. This work includes investment in infrastructure development, school sport, extra curricula programmes, investment in information technology and the regulation of the spaza shop sector to prevent food borne diseases that account for the death and sickness of learners. 

This is in line with the imperatives of education, access, children, dignity, language and culture and as espoused by the Constitution. Guided by the Freedom Charter that “The Doors of Learning and Culture Shall Be Opened”, the Basic Education Laws Amendment Act (BELA Act) that promotes and guarantees universal access, the dignity of learners, the equality of languages and investing in people it is our earnest believe that no child shall be denied the right to education. 

We appeal to communities to assume leadership by ensuring that the opening of schools is seamless to welcome the 2025 cohort as a continuation of the work of the past 30 years of democracy.  

The ANC shall continue to invest in people by building quality education and creating a conducive environment for quality learning. “The Doors of Learning and Culture Shall Be Opened”. 

GAUTENG SCHOOL INFRASTRUCTURE  @KASIBCNEWS

As the 2025 academic year commence in Gauteng today, the Gauteng Provincial Legislature’s Portfolio Committee on Infrastructure Development & Property Management is calling on the Department of Infrastructure Development to fast track the completion of school infrastructure projects to address the growing issue of overcrowding in Gauteng schools.

This comes after high pressure areas in the Province are experiencing an intake of high number of learners and this urgent action is critical to ensuring that learners are provided with conducive and safe learning environments.

The increasing demand for quality education in Gauteng has placed immense pressure on existing infrastructure and delayed school construction and refurbishment projects have exacerbated the problem.

The Committee is in possession of a list of schools which should have been completed by now and handed over to communities to alleviate overcrowding in certain areas, but they remain incomplete which the Committee views as unacceptable as it robs leaners of the opportunities they deserve.

To address this, the Committee urges the Department of Infrastructure Development to implement effective project management systems to ensure that all infrastructure projects are completed on time, within budget and the required quality standards.

The Committee calls for decisive action against Project Managers responsible for delays in school infrastructure projects.  

Where negligence, corruption or inefficiencies are identified, swift and firm action must be taken to hold those responsible accountable.  This will send a strong message that delays in the completion and delivery of critical infrastructure projects will not be tolerated in Gauteng.

The Committee recognizes that there are some areas where efforts have already been made by the Department of Infrastructure Development, but stresses that the pace of progress must improve significantly.

Learners and educators cannot wait any longer for the completion of much needed school infrastructure projects such as Rust Ter Vaal Secondary School, New Simunye Secondary School, Thubelihle Secondary School, Ditau Primary School and many other projects across the Province which the Committee has previously visited.

The Committee will use the list it has of incomplete school infrastructure projects to monitor their progress and hold the Department accountable particularly on timelines, standard of work done and allocated budgets to ensure that Gauteng learners are given conducive learning environments and allowing them access to quality education.