The Department of Basic Education (DBE) yesterday published the amended draft regulations for minimum uniform norms and standards for school infrastructure for comment in the Government Gazette.
However, there is still no guarantee that all schools will have Internet access in the next few years.
Education minister Angie Motshekga published the regulations in the nick of time in terms of a settlement agreement between Equal Education and her that was made an order of court by the Eastern Cape High Court in July.
The regulations stipulate, among others, that all schools have some form of wired or wireless connectivity, be fitted with a fixed telephone line, fax facilities and Internet access. All school sites must contain a name board that shows the school's GPS coordinates.
A previous stipulation that required all newly built schools to have solar panels has been amended to state that all schools must have a form of electricity supply such as solar panels, generators, wind-powered energy sources or grid electrical reticulation.
Existing schools must achieve compliance with basic requirements such as sanitation and water supply within 10 years and with other requirements by 2030.
DA shadow minister for education, Annette Lovemore, points out that all of the requirements contained in the regulation are subject to achievement being reasonably practicable. "This is understandable to a degree, but it provides an easy opt-out clause for less functional provinces," says Lovemore. "This year, Limpopo and North West did not make one single cent of their provincial budget available for infrastructure. Surely this [lack of funding] will be the first reason for achievement not being reasonably practicable."
Lovemore notes the draft regulations are relatively vague, but says this is not necessarily a bad thing as too much detail could result in great effort and expense measuring compliance.
"MECs must report their plan to the minister six months after promulgation of the regulations and annually thereafter. If the provinces are not serious, and if the minister does not interrogate plans that do not result in compliance, the courts will again be forced to intervene and determine what is and what is not reasonably practicable," she says.
After comment on the draft has been reviewed, Motshekga will publish the final approved regulations by 30 November.
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