The community of Lwandle is delighted that the provincial education department has listened to their pleas for extra classrooms, in a bid to reduce the high number of unplaced learners.
This is according to Ward 86 councillor Xolani Diniso, who said they have been informed that the department plans to build a new high school in the area. “The news of the start of construction of Lwandle High Technical School is a symbol of hope that, come 2023, we will have a fully fledged technical school,” he said.
The planned school, which will accommodate 1 400 learners, formed part of a public participation process that was opened as part of an environmental authorisation application (EAA) for a public precinct, including a regional hospital and multi-school complex near Lwandle and Nomzamo (“School, hospital campus proposed,” DistrictMail, 20 May 2021).
Construction of a temporary started on a vacant site on the corner of the N2 and Onverwacht Road last Monday (1 August.) Departmental spokesperson Bronagh Hammond said a brick-and-mortar technical high school is currently in design.
“The department is placing mobile classrooms on site in the interim,” she said. “The learners in the mobile classrooms will eventually attend the new school.”
The classrooms are being constructed in the interim, while the proposed nuts and bolts of the permanent school is still in embryo.
The mobile classrooms will be removed as soon as construction of the brick-and-mortar school is complete. “At the end of October, 10 classrooms, two admin buildings, one staff room, two ablution facilities, one kitchen and three storage containers will be provided,” Hammond added.
“The department is also prioritising skills development for the future, and technical skills are valued and needed skills in terms of the Western Cape economy. Therefore, the department is expanding skills development opportunities for the Lwandle community.”
Teaching staff are yet to be appointed, with this process and the election of the school governing body is set to start once the school is ready for occupation.
“We thank all parents who were patient with us [while waiting for] extra classrooms for the learners of Lwandle, Nomzamo and Asanda Village,” Diniso said.
