Education
- Whether her Department has a Repair and Maintenance Policy or guidelines for its school facilities; if not, why not; if so, how is it communicated to schools in each district;
whether her Department ensures the effective implementation of its Repair and Maintenance Policy or guidelines; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details?
- (1) Yes, the Western Cape Education Department (WCED) has guidelines or standard operating procedures (SOP’s) for Routine/ Day-to-Day, Scheduled and Emergency Maintenance. Guidelines are currently being aligned to the National Immovable Asset Management Standard (NIAMMS).
Various circulars were issued notifying schools about these guidelines. Circular 27/2014 set out the maintenance standard operating procedure for Routine/Day-to-Day, Scheduled and Emergency Maintenance, and replaced circular 175/2000. Circular 41/2016 is the most recent circular that was issued guiding schools on the use of Norms & Standards funding for day-to-day/ routine maintenance funding.
(2) Yes, the WCED prepares a prioritised list of schools that are to receive maintenance and repairs in the User Asset Management Plan (U-AMP), based on available budget. The implementation of these projects is further managed through the Infrastructure Programme Management Plan (IPMP). The implementation of scheduled maintenance projects is done through the Department of Transport and Public Works (DTPW). Schools remain responsible for Day-to-Day and Routine Maintenance.
The WCED is also in the process of drafting a new comprehensive infrastructure maintenance guideline that will provide more practical detail on how schools can maintain their school infrastructure.
