September 7, 2005
By Ndaba Dlamini
THE Alexandra Renewal Project is making headway in its efforts to provide the township with enough schools for all its children.
Alex, as it is affectionately known, is one of the most deprived communities in Johannesburg. With an estimated population of almost 400 000 living in an area with an infrastructure initially designed for about 70 000 people, Alex has 13 primary schools, five secondary schools and one special school.
"There are plans under way to build two primary schools and one high school," says Darlene Louw, a project manager for the Alexandra Renewal Project (ARP).
A view of Alexandra from the Jukskei River
"But these will not be built within the existing township area of Alex. They will be built in new housing development areas like Marlboro South and Extension 6. These are part of efforts to de-densify Alex."
The ARP is managed by the Gauteng department of housing and the City of Johannesburg. Its objective is "to fundamentally upgrade living conditions and human development potential within Alexandra".
The integrated development programme was designed "to deliver housing, roads, water, sanitation, schools, clinics, magistrates' offices and police stations".
During the initial planning phase in 2001, the need for primary and secondary schools was identified. The projects focused on improving the existing schools and developing new schools.
Since the start of the ARP, repairs and renovations to 17 schools worth about R8-million have been completed. These include painting and sealing roofs and upgrading electrical installations at all schools.
Repairs to doors, locks and toilet blocks and upgrading of burglar bars and grille gates have been completed at some schools.
"Ekukhanyisweni Primary School is being replaced with a permanent structure and we have moved Nokuthula Special School to a temporary base in Marlboro South until [construction] of the new school is complete," Louw explains.
Several other projects have been implemented by the ARP as part of its efforts to provide quality education to residents. By March 2005, 77 educators had undergone a one-year training and mentoring programme in four primary schools.
To complement the schools development programme, the ARP has embarked on a drive to provide educational support material for school libraries, called Dynamic School Libraries.
Most Alex libraries now have hi-tech educational equipment that could be the envy of any school in the northern suburbs, thanks to the ARP chipping in to buy videos, books, tapes, tape recorders, mobile libraries, posters and televideo combinations.
In addition, the ARP has supplied a host of library equipment, like guillotines, hand scanners, shelves, counters, date stamps and catalogue cards. Books and audio visual equipment were supplied to 18 libraries.
At Alexandra High School a computer centre has been set up, complete with 25 computers and desks. At Kwabhekilanga High School, where a multi-code facility is being developed, a technological centre has been installed. It will offer Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer training and has been fitted with technical drawing tables and chairs, technical drawing models and an Auto Cad Software system.
Besides the rehabilitation of Ekukhanyisweni Primary School and Nokuthula Special School, the ARP will embark on yet another ambitious project, the Six Cluster Rehabilitation. It will cover Gordon Primary School, Alexandra High School and Carter Primary School, during 2005/2006.
"Our view is that children in Alexandra should be provided with quality education and that all [learners] should attend schools as close to their homes as possible," Louw concludes.
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