Infrastructure Development

Infrastructure Development

The Infrastructure Programme of the Northern Cape Department of Education is a strategic initiative aimed at delivering education infrastructure that supports effective teaching and learning across the province. This programme plays a critical role in fulfilling the department’s mandate to ensure that all learners have access to safe, appropriate, and well-maintained school facilities.

The core objectives of the Infrastructure Programme include:

· Ensuring compliance with the Minimum Uniform Norms and Standards for Public School Infrastructure.

· Providing equitable access to educational infrastructure for all learners, including those in rural and underserved communities.

· Supporting inclusive education by designing facilities that accommodate learners with special needs.

· Prioritising sustainability, accessibility, and safety in all infrastructure interventions.

Key Focus Areas

· Replacement Schools: Replacing inappropriate or unsafe infrastructure, such as asbestos and mud structures.

· New School Construction: Building new schools to address overcrowding and improve access to education.

· Additions and Upgrades: Expanding and improving existing facilities, including classrooms, Grade R classrooms, and sanitation.

· Scheduled Maintenance: Implementing preventative and corrective maintenance programmes to preserve the functionality and safety of school infrastructure.

· Early Childhood Development (ECD) Infrastructure: Constructing and upgrading facilities for 0-4 year olds.

Programme Management

· The Infrastructure Programme is managed in alignment with the Framework for Infrastructure Delivery and Procurement Management (FIDPM) and is funded through the Education Infrastructure Grant (EIG).

· The Department utilises integrated planning systems, such as the Education Facilities Management System (EFMS), to ensure data-driven decision-making, transparent monitoring, and improved accountability.

Impact

Since its inception, the Infrastructure Programme has delivered hundreds of infrastructure projects, benefitting thousands of learners across the province. The department continues to refine its long-term infrastructure plan, ensuring that infrastructure investment is aligned with learner growth trends, spatial development plans, and national targets. The relevant documents, such as the infrastructure long-term plan, the 3-year MTEF project list, and the year-end evaluation reports, can be downloaded from the links provided below.

SUMMARY OF 2024/25 MTEF EDUCATION INFRASTRUCTURE GRANT PROJECT LIST

The following table indicates the allocation per Nature of Investment for the Education Infrastructure Grant:

NATURE OF INVESTMENT	NUMBER OF PROJECTS	TOTAL PROJECT COST [ESTIMATE]	BUDGET ALLOCATION 2024/25	BUDGET ALLOCATION 2025/26	BUDGET ALLOCATION 2026/27
MAINTENANCE AND REPAIRS	78	R 252 454 823	R 110 360 664	R 46 923 529
NEW OR REPLACED INFRASTRUCTURE	32	R 4 080 309 129	R 393 069 733	R 438 951 168	R 653 981 000
NON-INFRASTRUCTURE	17	R 332 496 245	R 83 067 522
REHABILITATION, RENOVATIONS & REFURBISHMENT	2	R 42 445 114	R 8 294 287	R 6 000 000
UPGRADING AND ADDITIONS	53	R 624 188 548	R 121 510 794	R 161 764 303	R 31 500 000
Grand Total	182	R 5 331 893 859	R 716 303 000	R 653 639 000	R 685 481 000