The National Director of Education, Granville Whittle, has slammed reports that the Eastern Cape is set to receive more than R6 billion to eradicate mud schools.
The National Director of Education, Granville Whittle, has slammed reports that the Eastern Cape is set to receive more than R6 billion to eradicate mud schools.
Several newspapers and online news sites, including www.timeslive.co.za reported that Basic Education Minister Angie Motshekga announced an R8.2 billion budget to eradicate mud schools in the country. R6.2 billion of this will be spent in the Eastern Cape.
This announcement was made after seven Eastern Cape mud schools succeeded in a court battle at the Bhisho High Court against the Department of Education. The mud and cinderblock schools in the Transkei reached an out-of-court settlement with the provincial government two weeks ago.
The schools demanded the State provide them with sufficient infrastructure after slapping the government with civil action in August 2010. The High Court application was driven by the Centre of Child Law and the Legal Resources Centre (LRC).
It is reported that some schools have been operating from mud structures for up to 20 years. The founding affidavit stated that all seven schools faced a shortage of desks and chairs and water. Pupils were even forced to collect water from streams as far as 2km away.
“The government has been given until March 1, 2014 to replace all inadequate structures, including mud structures, at schools throughout the country and supply them with sufficient basic living facilities. The department will erect temporary classrooms for the schools by the end of next month,” the articles read.
It further said there was a budget of between R10 million and R13.5 million for each school. At one school, Tembeni Junior Primary, more than 250 pupils shared 53 desks last year and there were no chairs. The Provincial Education Department head, Modidima Mannya, warned parents of children attending other mud schools against suing the department.
TimesLive reported him saying any court action would take about three years and that litigation was not the right way to get things done in a developmental state. And when Grocott's Mail made further enquiries, Whittle said the reports that the Eastern Cape was getting R6 billion was incorrect. “The information cannot be provided, as the lists are being finalised. It is incorrect that the Eastern Cape is getting R6 billion. Details will be available after the State of the Nation Address and Budget Speech," Whittle said.
