This, as the department has only spent 20% of its infrastructure grant by the end of September 2019. Briefing the Basic Education Portfolio Committee on schools’ infrastructure programmes, the department confirmed it has concerns over the number of provinces not spending their infrastructure budgets nor meeting their targets. A huge backlog in school infrastructure is regarded as one of the major challenges faced by the department. While the audit conducted by the department indicated a huge challenge with the number of pit latrines in Limpopo, KwaZulu-Natal and the Eastern Cape, the number of schools not meeting the basic safety norms and standards in other provinces is also of great concern. 

The province has also recorded the lowest number of sanitation provision at schools. The report tabled by the department before the committee, also indicates that there have been no upgrades of electricity at schools, no upgrades of sporting facilities, nor of special schools in the province, amongst other targets.

OFM News