A new high school for Worcester | Western Cape Government

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A new high school for Worcester

20 July 2016

The construction of the new Worcester High School is under way. The new facility, which is expected to be ready for the 2017 academic year, will provide top-quality accommodation for 1 250 learners, as well as sports fields and other amenities.

This R61 million project was commissioned by the Department of Transport and Public Works (DTPW) on behalf of the Western Cape Education Department (WCED). Construction began in August 2015 and is expected to have been completed early in October 2016.

Most of the school buildings will consist of a framed concrete structure and a mixture of face brick and painted infill walls. Teaching facilities will comprise 33 standard classrooms, two multi-purpose classrooms, two science laboratory rooms, and a media room. The complex will also have a hall with toilet facilities, an administrative building and caretaker’s facilities, as well two netball courts and a rugby field.

All classrooms will enjoy a lot of natural light and be well ventilated. The site will be landscaped with a combination of grass and perennial flowering plants, including planters in the courtyard. The building has some capacity to harvest rainwater for irrigation, which will reduce the consumption of this precious resource and lead to long-term cost savings for the school. 

The DTPW is committed to creating Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP) work opportunities through the project, including the vital skills training component. A total of R10 million is expected to go towards targeted contractor businesses, R6 million to suppliers and manufacturers, and R5 million to targeted local labour.

The Western Cape Government invests heavily in infrastructure to improve the quality of our teaching and learning spaces, as well as to meet the demands for schooling in the province. The WCED has budgeted a total of R1.29 billion in 2016/17 for building and refurbishing school infrastructure.

Follow the Department on Twitter under the hashtag #constructionWC

Media Enquiries: 

The construction of the school:
Byron la Hoe
Communication Officer
Department of Transport and Public Works
Tel: 021 483 9813
Cell: 079 281 8570
Email: byron.lahoe@westerncape.gov.za

The operational aspects of the school:
Paddy Attwell
Spokesperson
Western Cape Education Department
Tel: 021 467 2531
E-mail: Paddy.Attwell@westerncape.gov.za

You can follow the Department of Transport and Public Works on Twitter: @WCGovTPW