In his 2015 State of the Nation (SONA) address, President Jacob Zuma spent very little time on basic education issues, but rather devoted a few minutes to the progress made on tackling school infrastructure backlogs. A bit more was said by Finance Minister Nhlanhla Nene when he delivered his budget speech. The Minister allocated R640 billion to basic education over the next three years. Of this, R7.4 billion was set aside for the replacement of 510 unsafe or poorly constructed schools, and to provide water to 1120, sanitation to 741, and electricity to 916 schools. A further R29.6 billion has been allocated to the education infrastructure grant to help schools meet the new minimum norms and standards for school infrastructure. The ‘Norms and Standards for Public School Infrastructure’, published in 2013, state that by 2016 all schools built from mud, wood or asbestos must be replaced, and all schools without water, electricity or sanitation must be provided with these amenities by 2020.

Written by Kenny Pasensie, Researcher, Southern African Catholic Bishops’ Conference Parliamentary Liaison Office (CPLO)