The damage was caused by strong and destructive winds that swept through parts of the province between 4 and 5 September. The incident comes at a critical period in the school calendar, with learners preparing to write their final examinations and schools intensifying preparations for the examination period.

National Council of Provinces whip in North West, Sylvia Sithole said every possible measure must be put in place to ensure affected learners are not disadvantaged.

While natural disasters cannot be predicted or prevented, Sithole stressed the urgency and effectiveness of the response to the current disaster could prove critical in determining whether affected schools are able to successfully complete the academic year.

She also emphasised interventions should not adopt a one-size-fits-all approach, but should instead take into account the unique needs, circumstances and extent of damage experienced by each affected school.

During the recently concluded provincial week programme of the NCOP, the North West delegation visited several schools and witnessed first-hand the improvements that had been implemented following the delegation’s previous oversight visit.

“Unfortunately, this storm has the potential to set back the progress made by the provincial department of education, as it will now have to reprioritise its budget to address the damage and rebuild affected schools. While this work must commence as a matter of urgency to ensure preparedness of schools for the next academic year, the reality is that some planned departmental projects may have to be deferred,” Sithole said.

Interventions such as the possible adoption of a platoon system could be considered to minimise disruptions to learning.

However, she warned strong monitoring and oversight mechanisms would be needed to ensure that any intervention adopted is effectively implemented and serves the best interests of learners.

Sithole also called for a broader rethink of the approach to the development of school infrastructure, particularly in light of the increasing frequency and intensity of extreme weather events associated with climate change.

While acknowledging that much of the existing school infrastructure was designed and constructed before climate resilience became a central consideration in infrastructure planning, Sithole said this must now be incorporated into the design and development of future school infrastructure projects.

“Going forward, we must ensure that the infrastructure we build, is not only capable of meeting current educational needs but is also resilient enough to withstand the unanticipated impact of the extreme weather-related disasters. Building climate-resilient infrastructure must become an integral part of planning for the future of education,” Sithole said.

She urged both the provincial and national departments to work closely together to ensure that urgent interventions are implemented to minimise disruptions to learning and protect the academic prospects of affected learners.

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