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The Independent Development Trust (IDT) has completed construction of six schools in the Eastern Cape and has already handed over the much needed premises to the communities, creating a conducive environment for teaching and learning.
The IDT was appointed by the Department of Basic Education as an implementing agent for construction of these schools as part of the Accelerated School Infrastructure Delivery Initiative (ASIDI) programme, which was initiated by the government in an effort to eradicate the backlog in school infrastructure across the country.
The completed schools are Sulenkama Primary School and Gqukunqa Senior Primary School in Qumbu, Mqhakama Junior Secondary School in Libode, Tamsanqa Senior Primary School in Idutywa and Mpenduza Junior Secondary School and Ndotshanga Senior Primary School in Butterworth – all of which were constructed at a total cost of R165-million.
The infrastructure at these schools now comprises of new classrooms, multi-purpose centres, media and library blocks, science laboratories, nutrition centres and dining facilities, Grade R classrooms and amenities, ablution blocks and sports fields.
The ASIDI programme also aims to provide school infrastructure that is supplied with basic services such as water, sanitation and electricity in order to create a conducive environment for learning and teaching, and as such schools constructed from inappropriate material — including mud and asbestos — are being replaced through the implementation of the programme.
The new premises at Tamsanqa Senior Primary School are a major improvement to the dilapidated two- roomed mud structure which was visibly unsafe for both the learners and educators to occupy.
Site works at all the projects implemented by the IDT include provision for rainwater harvesting, drilling & equipping of borehole for provision of water, high rise water storage & reticulation, security fencing, parking area, paving, retaining walls, walkways inclusive of ramps & staircase, storm water drainage and related bulk earthworks.
A total of 337 jobs were created in terms of labour, interns, in-service training and professional service providers in all these projects.
During construction of these premises, at least R15-million was spent on small, medium and micro enterprises, a substantial amount of which was made at Mqhakama and Sulenkama where conventional (bricks and mortar) methods of construction were used.
In addition, 123 people were trained in construction trades including bricklaying, plastering, painting, carpentry and tiling, and issued with certificates as part of the IDT’s skills development efforts.
NOTES TO EDITORS:
The IDT is an entity of the National Department of Public Works that is mandated to support all spheres of government with social infrastructure management and programme implementation.
In the past five years the IDT supported 40 government departments including building 97 new schools and 36 new health facilities while renovating hundreds more and created more than 360 000 work opportunities in various communities through its implementation of social infrastructure programmes and the Expanded Public Works Programme.
Lesego Mashigo
Senior Manager: Communication and Marketing Cell: 073 883 0662
Tel: 012 845 2088
Email: lesegoma@idt.org.za