Minister of Transport and Public Works Donald Grant visited the site of the PC Petersen Primary School in Kylemore last week, which is a replacement school currently under construction.
According to a joint press release by Western Cape Minister of Education, Debbie Schäfer, and Grant, the state-of-the-art, R51 million school is at an advanced stage, with full completion expected by September.
The project will provide much-needed relief to the existing school, and accommodate more pupils in a safe environment that’s conducive to teaching and learning.
This replacement school will accommodate 620 learners (adding to the 580 learners accommodated at the existing school), and will have the potential for future expansion should the need arise.
The school buildings comprise a combination of standard plastered and painted stock brick construction and strip footings, with facebrick infill panels, while also boasting concrete columns and beams for improved stability as well as steel trusses in the hall.
The replacement school will also consist of:
V 16 standard classrooms (including 2 for Grade R)
V one science laboratory
V one multi-purpose classroom
V one multi-media classroom
V one hall with feeding kitchen and toilet facilities
V An administration building
V Caretaker’s facilities
This project involved extensive construction work, in which conventional building materials and methods that remain the most economical, durable and low-maintenance system of building were used.
This construction project has created 95 job opportunities, largely for young people (70,5% youth opportunities, 7,35% women, and 7,26% for disabled people), during which 12 skills training initiatives were also created, and 12% (R6 million) of the project cost was spent on targeted SMMEs, 3,5% (R1,8 million) on suppliers and manufacturers, and 5% (R2,5 million) on targeted local labour. Empowerment targets, as required in projects of this nature, were met and exceeded, which is testament to the commitment of the project team.
“In the past 10 years of this administration, we have spent R9 billion on school infrastructure and the construction of new and replacement schools, an achievement worth celebrating,” said Grant.
“The WCED invests heavily in school infrastructure to improve the quality of our schools teaching and learning spaces as well as meet the demands for schooling in the province,” says Schäfer. “The delivery of quality education is critical to the future prospects of our learners, and by ensuring that our learners receive high-quality education we ensure their future success and the success of our beautiful country.
“I must also appeal to the School Governing Body and the community to protect the school as there is no point in investing in building these beautiful new schools if we are not going to work together to protect them. Schools are community assets, and just as we joined forces to build this wonderful school we need you to join forces to protect the school and, in doing so, protect the education of our children. We hope that this new school will be an institution of quality teaching and learning, where learners and teachers are safe and secure.”
According to the inter-departmental press release, learners of this school can look forward to world-class learning and teaching facilities, which will undoubtedly contribute to improved education outcomes.
“This replacement primary school is a much-needed addition to the Kylemore community and will be of service for years to come.”
