Education
Question by:
Hon Denis Joseph
Answered by:
Hon Debbie Schäfer
Question Number:
5
Question Body:
- Whether the plan to upgrade the Panorama Primary School in Riversdale is on track according to timeframe and allocated budget; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details;
- what are the (a) educational benefits and (b) challenges of the upgrading for the community and region?
Answer Body:
- The project is still on track. The strategic brief for the project was issued to the Department of Transport and Public Works (DTPW) on 13 January 2014 for planning and design purposes. In terms of the department’s U-AMP, the site will be handed over in February 2016, whereafter construction will follow. It normally takes an average of 14 months for a school to be completed once under construction, provided there are no unexpected delays.
- (a) The new facility will comply with national minimum infrastructure norms and standards for school facilities, and by implication provide a better and more conducive environment for teaching and learning. The community will also gain in terms of some job creation opportunities.
(b) One critical challenge experienced in the provision of new infrastructure is the employment expectations in the community and the disappointment when all unemployed people do not find employment during the construction of the school. This often leads to protest and delays in the delivery of the school. It is critical that communities understand that there are a limited number of jobs, some of which require specific skills.
Date:
Friday, April 17, 2015
