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18 June 2008

The Gauteng Department of Education (GDE)'s one comma four billion rand investment into new schools for this fiscal year will help accelerate the province's move towards a Globally Competitive City Region.

That is the word from Premier Mbhazima Shilowa, who was addressing the audience at the official handing over of the newly-built Kwa-Thema Secondary School on Tuesday, 17 June.

Opening the schools "has been a long time dream of mine because educating the African child is important to building Gauteng into a Globally Competitive City Region," the Premier said.

The schools are part of the 54 brand new educational facilities that the GDE will be spending some one comma four billion rand to construct during this financial year.

Each school has cost about R26 million to be built. The schools are located in the 20 Priority Townships Programme (PTP) areas where there are mass development concerns which the government seeks to address.

"Gauteng needs skilled individuals; which these schools will produce. Education will add to the government's fight against poverty and unemployment," Shilowa added.

Shilowa further called on the community to take ownership of the schools as their roles extended beyond just providing schooling.

"The schools can (also) be used as community centres for a number of activities, including community sport. The community must have a sense of ownership of the schools to prevent vandalism," Shilowa said.

He added that the new schools would reduce overcrowding in classes and enable teachers to provide adequate attention to their pupils because of the manageable numbers in each class.

Education MEC, Angie Motshekga, said the schools were located in integrated communities that were designed through housing projects undertaken by the Gauteng Provincial Government.

"Our pupils travelled long hours to get to schools situated far away from their homes. We want to bring education closer to the children," MEC Motshekga said.

Each school includes a computer centre connected to another mile stone project by the Gauteng Provincial Government; Gauteng Online. There are also science laboratories and domestic science centres; together with sports facilities which have sitting areas and a media centre.

Gauteng has a constant need for more schools due to immigration to the province. Numerous community consultation meetings were held to make the construction suitable for each community.

Issued by: Office of the Premier, Gauteng Provincial Government
18 June 2008
Source: Gauteng Provincial Government (http://www.gautengonline.gov.za)