Alex Matlala
Alex Matlala
The Limpopo department of education yesterday received a windfall of R143million from the provincial treasury.
Most of the money will be used to rebuild schools that were damaged by storms last month.
About 40 schools in the province had their roofs blown off in a vicious storm that unleashed havoc in most parts of the province.
The schools worst affected by the storm were in far-flung rural areas.
Capricorn district municipality was the hardest hit by the storm, with 15 schools having their roofs blown away.
The situation led to school furniture such as tables and chairs, as well as books, being ruined by rain that lasted for nearly two weeks.
Education department spokesman Ndo Mangala told Sowetan yesterday that the money would be used to rebuild, renovate and build new classrooms at the affected schools.
Mangala said R90million of the money would be used to repair schools which had been badly damaged because of the storm and whose roofs were blown off by the wind.
"Some of the money would be used to complete the last phase of building at some of the 2039 schools which were ravaged by storms in 2005," said Mangala.
The balance would be used to build ablution blocks, school libraries, computer laboratories and home economic laboratories and sports fields.
Building at the schools would take place in phases, within a time frame of three years.
Mangala said pupils from schools affected by the storms were being moved to neighbouring schools, community halls and local churches for pupils in the higher grades to write exams and those in the lower grades to do their final preparations for exams.
l According to a report by the national Education Infrastructure Management System released four weeks ago, the number of crowded schools throughout the country has dropped from 51percent in 1999 to 24percent last year.
Only 74percent of schools are in excellent condition.
The report shows that only 68percent of schools have computers and that a mere 7percent have adequate libraries.
The assessment was done at 28742 schools countrywide.
The report further showed that schools with electricity increased from 11174 in 1996 to 20713 last year.
Meanwhile, schools without water dropped from 8823 in 1996 to 3152 last year.
Those without toilets fell from 3265 to 1532.
R143m windfall for rebuilding
Alex Matlala
Alex Matlala
The Limpopo department of education yesterday received a windfall of R143million from the provincial treasury.
Most of the money will be used to rebuild schools that were damaged by storms last month.
About 40 schools in the province had their roofs blown off in a vicious storm that unleashed havoc in most parts of the province.
The schools worst affected by the storm were in far-flung rural areas.
Capricorn district municipality was the hardest hit by the storm, with 15 schools having their roofs blown away.
The situation led to school furniture such as tables and chairs, as well as books, being ruined by rain that lasted for nearly two weeks.
Education department spokesman Ndo Mangala told Sowetan yesterday that the money would be used to rebuild, renovate and build new classrooms at the affected schools.
Mangala said R90million of the money would be used to repair schools which had been badly damaged because of the storm and whose roofs were blown off by the wind.
"Some of the money would be used to complete the last phase of building at some of the 2039 schools which were ravaged by storms in 2005," said Mangala.
The balance would be used to build ablution blocks, school libraries, computer laboratories and home economic laboratories and sports fields.
Building at the schools would take place in phases, within a time frame of three years.
Mangala said pupils from schools affected by the storms were being moved to neighbouring schools, community halls and local churches for pupils in the higher grades to write exams and those in the lower grades to do their final preparations for exams.
l According to a report by the national Education Infrastructure Management System released four weeks ago, the number of crowded schools throughout the country has dropped from 51percent in 1999 to 24percent last year.
Only 74percent of schools are in excellent condition.
The report shows that only 68percent of schools have computers and that a mere 7percent have adequate libraries.
The assessment was done at 28742 schools countrywide.
The report further showed that schools with electricity increased from 11174 in 1996 to 20713 last year.
Meanwhile, schools without water dropped from 8823 in 1996 to 3152 last year.
Those without toilets fell from 3265 to 1532.