A National Economic Development and Labour Council (Nedlac) report on norms and standards for school infrastructure has been agreed on, and stipulates, among other things, that all schools have to be fitted with a fixed telephone line, Internet access and must have a cellphone for emergency use, and that all newly built schools must have solar panels.
Nedlac released a statement yesterday saying the Department of Basic Education (DBE) tabled the regulations on the norms and standards relating to school infrastructure in early March 2013, and, as per Nedlac protocol, a committee was set up to engage on the issue.
"The final Nedlac report was ratified at the Nedlac Management Committee on 27 June 2013," says the statement.
The regulations apply to all public schools as defined in the South African Schools Act. After promulgation of the regulations, minister of basic education Angie Motshekga must develop and approve a national plan for implementation by all provinces and ensure compliance and adherence hereto.
The regulations also stipulate the minimum space allocation for each learner for each phase, a minimum sanitation facility of one washbasin and one toilet per 15 learners of the same sex, and a separate minimum sanitation facility for teachers and administration staff.
Surprise details
Democratic Alliance shadow minister of basic education Annette Lovemore says the details contained in the report on norms and standards for school infrastructure come as a complete surprise.
"The report that was considered by Nedlac was tabled in March," says Lovemore. "What existed in March was a draft of norms and standards on which I, Equal Education and many others commented, but they did not have the detail in them that is referred to in this report, like the solar panels, the Internet access, etc."
According to Lovemore, the report that was tabled for comment was "so devoid of detail that it could not be accepted". She says she will write to the minister to find out where the details in the accepted report come from.
"Nothing has been tabled legislatively that the rest of the country has been privy to that has the kind of details mentioned in this Nedlac report. As soon as Parliament is back in session, I will follow this up."
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