The provision of schools by the DET in South Africa during 1983-1994

Abstract

English: The provision of primary and secondary schools for Black People in the Republic of South Africa (excluding the then Independent States and Homelands), by the Department of Education and Training during the years 1983-94 is compared with the preceding period in respect of schools actually built and relevant procedures followed. It is concluded that the pre-1983 approach was inadequate. By contrast, the 1983-94 period addressed the shortfall of school buildings successfully by the systematic and methodical introduction of standardisation of: - classroom plans and layouts - modular coordination of planning grids - partial modular coordination of building components - school layout and various acceptable configurations - schedules of accommodation for specific schools dictated by the various permutations resulting from an approved curriculum followed and complying with the mandatory "space and cost norms" for school buildings - procedures applicable to consultants from initial briefing to final delivery of the project - documentation, production, storage and retrieval and - internal procedures for departmental staff. It is concluded that the principles of standardisation, long building life cycles, low maintenance, low energy and open ended planning, using modular standard units to facilitate any required number of configuration permutations are even more valid today.

Finally, it is stressed that a single dedicated schools building entity is more likely to succeed than an uncoordinated diversity of functionaries and clients.

Afrikaans: Die voorsiening van geboue vir primere en sekondere skole in Suid Afrika (uitgesluit die voormalige Onafhanklike State en Tuislande) deur die Departement van Onderwys en Opleiding gedurende 1983- 94, word vergelyk met die voorafgaande tydperk met verwysing na skole wat opgerig is en die prosedures wat gevolg is. Die gevolgtrekking is dat die pre-1983 benadering onvoldoende was. In teenstelling hiermee is die tekort aan skoolgeboue in die 1983-94 tydperk geslaagd aangepak deur middel van die sistematiese standaardisasie van: klaskamerplanne en -uitplasings modulere koordinasie van beplanningsroosters gedeeltelike modulere koordinasie van boukomponente skooluitleg en verskeie aanvaarbare konfigurasies akkommodasieskedules vir spesifieke skole wat bepaal word deur die verskeie permutasies as gevolg van 'n goedgekeurde kurrikulum wat gevolg is in oorleg met die verpligte "ruimte- en kostenorme" vir skoolgeboue prosedures van toepassing op konsultante, van die aanvanklike inligtingsessie tot en met finale oomame van die projek dokumentasie, produksie, berging en herwinnig van inligting en inteme prosedures vir departementele personeel. Die gevolgtrekking is dat die beginsels van standaardisasie, lang gebouleeftydsiklusse, lae instandhouding, lae energieverbruik en ooppuntbeplanning, deur die gebruik van modulere standaard eenhede om enige benodigde getal konfigurasiepermutasies te fasiliteer, tans selfs nog geldiger is. Ten slotte word dit beklemtoon dat 'n enkele, gespesialiseerde skoolverskaffingseenheid 'n groter kans op welslae bet as 'n ongekoordineerde diversiteit van funksionarisse en kliente.