Media Release
Minister of Education Debbie Schäfer
Western Cape

29 January, 2016

Progress made on Avondale Primary School, Atlantis.

Statement by Minister Debbie Schäfer, Minister of Education

At the start of the 2016 Academic Year, parents and learners of Avondale Primary raised concerns with the WCED that their school building was not structurally safe. The parents locked the school gates and blocked access to teachers, learners and officials.

WCED officials immediately sought to engage with the parents and the School Governing Body (SGB), as well as, to investigate the concerns raised regarding the school building and learner and educator safety.

Last week the school was assessed by a structural engineer who has reported back to the WCED on the various needs of the school. A number of classrooms have been deemed safe by the Engineer for use by the teachers and learners. However, the engineer further identified some areas of the school that needed to be cordoned off until repairs to certain features, such as balustrades, are made.

Once the necessary repairs are completed, these areas can be used again. These findings have been communicated to the parents of the school. The areas identified will be cordoned off and the necessary repairs made.

Last week, the WCED also approved the planning of a new replacement school in 2016/17 financial year and committed to ensure immediate maintenance of emergency defects identified at the school. Contractors have already visited the school to begin maintenance.

I am pleased that we have been able to attend to the issues raised by the school community. The WCED is now considering options as to how to ensure that teaching and learning can continue as soon as possible. They will be discussing this plan with the SGB early next week.

During this whole process, the WCED has engaged regularly with the SGB and the community and we believe that, in the meantime, a general agreement has been reached with the SGB on how the WCED will address the structural needs of the school.

My concern at this stage is that there are opportunistic organisations that are intent on politicizing the matter and further delaying the learner's access to the school.

I urge these organisations and the broader school community to work with us so that further valuable teaching and learning time is not lost.

Media enquiries:
Jessica Shelver
Spokesperson for the Minister of Education, Debbie Schäfer
Western Cape Education Department
Tel: 076 175 0663