This morning, Western Cape Minister for Education Donald Grant visited Malmesbury to assess progress on Naphakade Secondary School.

“School activities resumed as normal this morning at both the secondary and the primary school,” said Grant.

“The WCED has worked hard over the weekend to ensure that learning continues in a safe environment and to deliver on our commitment to ensure that the school is relocated to an alternative site.”

Grant said that over the weekend officials of the WCED and teachers from Naphakade Secondary School successfully removed the damaged mobiles from the site in preparation for the return of learners at the school today.

This included debris from three classrooms and two ablution facilities.

“Broken windows were repaired and classrooms were cleaned to make them suitable for teaching and learning. Desks from a neighbouring school have also been sourced,” he said.

“A management plan has been put in place whereby provision has been made to accommodate all learners at the current site. Learners will share facilities until the secondary site has been constructed.”

Grant said that he had every confidence that Public Works will deliver the required mobiles on the alternative site in the next two weeks.

“The land is currently being prepared for construction. 10-15 mobiles will be erected, and provision will also be made for administration and ablution facilities.This will be a temporary site until the new high school is constructed, which is due for completion in 2011.”

Grant emphasised that the construction of the new high school in Malmesbury was always part of the WCED’s planning, and that they would not, under any circumstances, be forced by communities to change our infrastructure development plans in response to violent actions.

“Extra tuition has already been provided to Grade 12s over the weekend and extra support will be given to all learners in order to catch up curriculum that was missed due to the disruptions last week,” he said.

“I would like to thank the officials of the WCED for working tirelessly to make this solution possible.”

For enquiries, contact Bronagh Casey:  072 724 1422 or brcasey@pgwc.gov.za.

Visit our website: http://wced.wcape.gov.za