More work needed to address infrastructure at schools
Basic Education Minister Angie Motshekga says her department has only managed to renovate 31 percent of schools lacking adequate infrastructure over the past two years.
Motshekga gave an update on progress made in infrastructure development in the education sector in Pretoria.
Around 217 of the schools needing urgent renovation have been completed.
510 schools have been identified by the department, which are built from asbestos, mud, metal and wood.
Seven out of the nine provinces failed to meet their targets, with Limpopo and North West the exceptions.
Basic Education Minister Angie Motshekga says the department has taken a number of steps in order to fast-track the process.
"There have been instances where we must own up that our officials have not followed the guidelines and that is why we are moving backwards and forwards. We have increased our technical capacity by employing build environment specialists," says Motshekga.
The department, meanwhile, is investigating the possible involvement of officials in the matric maths exam paper that was leaked in Limpopo.
Grade 12 learners from schools in Giyani had access to the Maths 2 paper on the eve of writing the exam.
"The evidence that is coming out is back up not only by electronic evidence, but by evidence on paper where money has been paid for one to make a paper available. Some of the information indicated that an official or officials could be involved," says the department's Director General Mathanzima Mweli.