Gauteng schools to get more classrooms

A total of 93 schools will get more classrooms before the next academic year, Education MEC Barbara Creecy said.

Of these, 83 would get classrooms for Grade R, and six would receive additional classrooms, special facilities or administration buildings, she told the provincial legislature.

Creecy was responding to questions from Khume Ramulifho of the Democratic Alliance.

Ramulifho asked whether Skeen Primary School in Alexandra was one of those which would benefit, as the school had converted its staff rooms into classrooms.

Creecy said the school had been prioritised for more classrooms on a programme by the Independent Development Trust. It would receive two classrooms for Grade R, to be ready for the 2013 academic year.

"This will enable the school to free up the classroom spaces currently used for Grade R... [and so] the staffroom will also be available to be used for its intended purpose," Creecy said.

Enrolment at the school had increased because families had been relocated to the school's catchment area.

Creecy said her department was "working around the clock" to correct school shortages in the province, which were caused by consistently high levels of migration to Gauteng.

"We are doing the very best we can," she said.