National School Build Programme launched

The aim of this Strategic Integrated Project - SIP13 - is to consolidate and integrate plans to remove inappropriate and unsafe school structures, upgrade and refurbish existing schools and construct new schools across the country.

It also aims to ensure focus on maintenance of existing and new schools.

SIP13 was launched at a meeting of an inter-governmental forum bringing together ministers, national departments, provinces, municipalities and state owned enterprises.

The forum aims to coordinate and integrate the actions of all spheres of government and state owned enterprises, in the implementation of the National Infrastructure Plan, as unveiled by President Zuma in his 2012 State of the National Address, and developed by the Presidential Infrastructure Coordinating Commission (PICC).

The National School Build Programme seeks to align the provision of services to ensure that all new schools are connected to water, electricity, sanitation, ICT, good access to roads and bridges, libraries and laboratories.

According to a statement issued by the GCIS on behalf of the Presidential Infrastructure Coordinating Commission, the forum agreed on the steps to be taken by all stakeholders to implement the SIP as well as appoint interim coordinating agencies.

"We are satisfied that on all accounts the inter-governmental forum was a success," said the commission.

The forum was addressed by the Ministers of Basic Education, Public Works and Economic Development who emphasised the need for speed and innovation to eradicate all unsafe and inappropriate schools and to respond to the additional demands.

Going forward, the technical team - made up of Departments of Basic Education, Public Works, the PICC technical team and state owned companies - has been asked to work around the clock to further develop the plan and table a revised programme by January.

The plan should stipulate the scope of work in terms of what will be implemented, when and the cost on a year-on-year basis, starting in 2013.

The DBSA and the IDT were appointed as interim project coordinators to fast track implementation and ensure coherence across all spheres of the state and state owned entities.