With learners in the coastal regions making their way back to the classrooms today, the KwaZulu-Natal education department is counting the cost of storm damage on schools in the province.
About R52 million has been allocated to repair and rebuild more than 200 schools damaged in the province.
Department spokesman Cassius Lubisi said about 30 schools were damaged by storms between July and August 2008 before an
additional 200 were also hit by storms, fires and winds later in the year.
”Scoping of the extent of repairs required is underway in many of the damaged schools,” he said.
Lubisi said the department had declared repair work on the schools an emergency in order to shorten tender procedures to appoint contractors to fix them.
”Where learning and teaching has been rendered impossible, temporary accommodation is being provided.
The department has tents that are available which are being deployed to schools which need them as a temporary measure,” he said.
”The department is working around the clock to limit the inconvenience visited on our learners by these natural disasters,” said Lubisi.-SAPA