Tebogo Monama

Tebogo Monama

Gauteng needs at least 100 more schools to accommodate the province's pupils.

In trying to relieve the problem, the Gauteng education department will in the next week open 13 new schools for 13000 pupils.

This is part of the department's school-building programme initiated by education MEC Angie Motshekga in 2006 to reduce the shortage of schools.

Motshekga said: "The Gauteng department of education made a commitment to respond to the ever-growing demands of the socio-economic needs of the people of Gauteng, education being one of them."

Last week, in Diepsloot, north of Johannesburg, Diepsloot West Secondary; in Ivory Park, Mayibuye Secondary School and in Braamfischerville in Soweto, JB Marks Secondary were opened. Other schools will be opened in Tshwane, the Vaal and in Ekurhuleni this week.

The principal of Diepsloot West Secondary School, Veronica Kgabo, said: "Children in the area had to travel long distances to school. The opening of the new schools has been a relief to parents."

Currently, the school caters for 1114 grades 8 and 9 pupils.

Today, Vlakfontein Secondary School and Emfuleni Primary School will be opened in the Vaal.

The department spends R24million on each school.

Motshekga said: "We need more than a 100 schools, most of which are high schools. Unfortunately, we do not have all the money so we build as the money comes in."

She said the issue of teachers was not a problem.

"We are building new schools for the existing pupils and teachers, and teachers will come to the new schools with their pupils."

The department is also refurbishing old schools.