Portland Primary School has received units for alternate classrooms as R25 million has been allocated towards an upgrade at the school.
The final budget is still to be determined, said Bronagh Hammond, spokeswoman for the Western Cape Education Department (WCED).
Ms Hammond said the school received 12 mobile units and two storage containers. The school is able to operate at full functionality, she told the Plainsman on Tuesday October 25.
Parents protested in front of the school on Thursday July 21 after they learned about the damaged building that affected classes of Grade 4 to 7 pupils (“Concerns over damaged Portland Primary building” Plainsman July 27).
“The mobile classrooms will allow the school to retain full functionality whilst the upgrade is under way, and teaching and learning can continue on a daily basis for all pupils. There is no need to operate on a rotation basis,” said Ms Hammond.
Charles Manuel, school-governing body spokesperson, confirmed the units arrived and the school is functioning normally.
Contractors informed the school that they would not be demolishing the damaged Block E. They will instead be carrying out renovations including on the electrical elements, windows and roof. “It’s basically a makeover on block E which is the building of concern,” he said.
The WCED sent out their forensic engineer where the foundation phase is, on Block B. They’re waiting on feedback on this as they would like to renovate Block B as well, he said.
Grade 4 to 7 pupils are using the units on the school’s field. Block B is still being used, he said.
They’re projecting that it will take around six months to fix, he said.
“The pupils are adapting. We are heading into summer time now it’s a bit hot but the school has made provision for fans to assist with the heat. We are grateful to the contractors who have done this project. We were hoping it would be done by September but they finished before then,” said Mr Manuel.
Parent Ebrahim Arendse said he saw the mobile units and renovations started on Monday October 24 as they were notified by the principal.
“I think they should be throwing down the back block. Ten years from now they may have to throw it down anyway. In the name of longevity, they could build a completely new building or even redesign the school and incorporate a hall,” he said.
He said the pupils are enjoying school and have adapted to the new units put in place, he said.
The site handover was on Monday October 17, said Ms Hammond.