Minister Grant to Present Plans to Improve School Infrastructure

On 24 May, Minister Donald Grant and Superintendent-General of the Western Cape Education Department (WCED), Ms Vinjevold, will announce the launch of a new electronic tool that the WCED has developed to improve infrastructure planning for education in the province.

The WCED has developed an Infrastructure Planning Geographic Information System (GIS) to ensure that the department is better placed to respond to the changing demands placed on the system due to a number of factors (including population shifts and new housing developments). The GIS will ensure that the WCED is better prepared to reduce the infrastructure development and maintenance backlog in the province.

The new GIS will assist the WCED to make informed decisions when it takes steps to align the size and shape of the education system to the changing environment in which our schools operate. For example, the WCED will use the new GIS when planning new school developments, school mergers, as well as school closures.