While the Western Cape seeks to use mobile classrooms as a possible solution to ever-increasing schools population, experts have classified the container-like classrooms as nothing more than glorified shacks.
In the current 2021/2022 financial year, the Western Cape Education Department, placed 314 mobile classrooms across the province and are looking at adding six more mobile schools ahead of next year’s academic year at a price tag of R90 million for phase one of the project.
The new schools will be placed in Bothasig, Bothasig, Fisantekraal, Klapmuts (2 schools), Nomzamo and Fairdale/Mfuleni, where a high demand for high schools exist.
Spokesperson for the department Kerry Mauchline said two of the new schools would be ready at the beginning of the second term in Bothasig and Fisantekraal.
“The schools are registered for operation and enrolment in the 2023 academic year and will be commissioned and opened in the 2022/23 financial year.
“The budgeted amount for the six schools is R90 million for the first phase, including all the Learning and Teaching Support Materials (LTSM) and furniture.
“Ten mobile units will be installed as the first phase for all the schools, with a default four classes for each of Grade 8 and 9, with additional classroom and (toilets), principal’s and administration offices and staffroom and non-teaching areas ( sport, arts and culture).”
Mauchline explained even though they were continuously researching new and alternative building materials and methods, materials needed to meet the Health and Safety Regulations as well as meet the Minimum Norms and Standards for school infrastructure.
“Nutec (material) does not meet these standards as it is not durable and sustainable, and it is considered inappropriate in terms of the regulations.”
It is for this reason that the department said they opted to use the mobile-classroom building option, as a short-term response to provide immediate relief when demand for placement was high in an area, added Mauchline.
“The average expected design life of a mobile classroom is 20 to 30 years depending on a number of factors, including usage, maintenance and climate conditions.”
However, education activist Hendrick Makaneta, believes that government should build sustainable solid classrooms that could last for many years instead of investing in mobile classrooms.
"Mobile classrooms are helpful when they are donated by the private sector but they should not be seen as an investment,“ he said.
"Mobile classrooms are nothing but glorified shacks post 1994. Normal classrooms create a dignified and conducive learning environment.
"South Africa must move swiftly to modernise the education system in its entirety and this includes creating classrooms for the future."
Equal Education’s researcher Stacey Jacobs, concurred with Makaneta , adding that mobile classrooms were just temporary solutions.
"Equal Education has long fought for the provision of adequate and dignified school infrastructure that is fit for purpose and conducive to an optimal learning and teaching environment,“ she said.
"Our infrastructure campaign - driven by high school learner members of EE resulted in Basic Education Minister Angie Motshekga publishing the Minimum Uniform Norms and Standards for Public School Infrastructure (Norms and Standards) in November 2013.
"This law sets out the minimum infrastructure requirements that every public school must meet to function properly.
"In a briefing to the Standing Committee on Education on January 25, the Western Cape Education Department noted that 173 additional mobile units were approved for implementation by the Department of Transport and Public Works, as part of its efforts to deal with classroom needs in the province.
"Mobile classrooms are simply a temporary solution and EE maintains that they are not a sustainable or permanent fix. Our learner members have testified that these classrooms become very hot in the summer and very cold in the winter - compromising learning conditions."
ANC provincial spokesperson on education Khalid Sayed said even though they welcomed the additional R2.2 bn allocated the department’s budget when compared to the 2021/22 revised estimate, it hoped that the increased allocations will ensure that quality education was provided for learners in the province.
"The ANC hopes that the increased budget will get MEC Debbie Schäfer to stop her constant whining and criticism of the national government for everything that goes wrong in this province," he added.
Sayed said it was disappointing that the WCED had not met its target to deliver two new mobile schools before the end of the first term.
"Such mishaps have contributed to hundreds of learners that are yet to be placed in schools with only a week remaining before the end of the first term. This is a disgrace,“ he added.
"Many proposals were made regarding bridging the inequality gap, including calling on former Model C schools to increase class sizes to allow more learners from poor backgrounds to enrol. Moreover, calls were made for the WCED to assist learners from previously disadvantaged backgrounds to enjoy the full benefits of the blended learning and online platforms. Both these proposals do not enjoy the support of the department and will not be funded this year.“