Oos Rand to get long-awaited school building
After more than three decades of waiting, the time has finally come for Oos Rand Secondary School's building.
The construction of the long-awaited permanent school building is underway.
The school’s new building structure will stand on the field adjacent to the old temporary building structure of the school.
This new facility, which will consists of 58 classrooms, will replace the aging and dilapidated structure that is currently housing the school.
Construction on the new facility, which is set to costs the government between R90-m and R100-m, is expected to be completed within 14 months.
Other developments at the school include the renovation of the school hall.
The old structure will be torn down and the area will be used to construct a sports field for the school.
Ward councillor Charlie Crawford is among other community leaders who have been putting pressure on the government to erect the school’s permanent building.
“We are very excited that the department has come through with funding for a new permanent building,” says Crawford.
“We have been fighting for the erection of the permanent building for more than 35 years now.
“With a community like ours, with so many young people under the age of 18, a school is one of the most vital needs of the community.
“This development is going to uplift our communities and provides a conducive learning and teaching environment for students and the teachers.”
Crawford is also a member of the project’s steering committees that will oversee the progress of the project.
Almost all of the school’s buildings are dilapidated and falling apart, but the school can’t do anything but to use these buildings, although some of them are hazardous to both learners and teachers.
According to a source involved with the school, who wishes to stay anonymous, even though the temporary structure was built to accommodate about 900 people, it is currently accommodating about 1 500 learners and 48 staff members.
DA MPL Janet Semple, who is the head of the Boksburg constituency, recently visited the school and found the temporary structure to be shocking.
In April this year, learners who were fed up of learning in a hazardous building, allegedly attempted to burn down the building of the school.
The alleged arson plot sent teachers and other students into a panic, reporting the matter to the police.
An 18-year-old boy was arrested and charged with conspiracy to commit arson.
According to Sgt Mashudu Phathela, spokesperson for the Reiger Park SAPS, the accused, along with other students, allegedly stuck dozens of letters on the school wall carrying information about the planned conspiracy to commit the attack on the school.
In the letters, the suspects cited the deteriorating temporary structure that houses the school as the reason for the attack.
When asked the reasons for this delay, Charles Phahlane, the Gauteng Department of Education’s head of communication, cited the size of the replacement of school buildings, various design options that had to be considered, and taking into account the new national norms and standards for school infrastructure as some of the reasons for the delay.
