Adding more classrooms requires R32 billion to solve overcrowding crisis, says Gwarube
The Basic Education Minister briefed Parliament on public school infrastructure backlogs including the eradication of pit toilets.
Basic Education Minister Siviwe Gwarube on 21 November 2024 among ministers leading the multidisciplinary teams in government responsible for the national response to instances of food borne illnesses. Picture: GCIS
CAPE TOWN - Basic Education Minister Siviwe Gwarube says they’re still trying to find R32 billion needed to build additional classrooms to address the overcrowding crisis.
Gwarube and the department briefed parliament on Wednesday on public school infrastructure backlogs, including the eradication of pit toilets.
She said thousands of schools still require additional classrooms due to what she described as the new phenomenon of overcrowding.
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"Over 8222 schools still require additional classrooms, and that is estimated to be R32 billion that we need to come up with. R32 billion is a huge amount of money," said Gwarube.
She added that they have made some progress in the sector, like eradicating all mud schools.
"As you would know, in 1994, there were a whole lot of schools built with mud, and those have been eradicated," said Gwarube.