Africa-Press – South-Africa. Thousands of pupils have missed out on school in the Chris Hani and OR Tambo districts of the Eastern Cape due to the recent devastating floods that hit areas, including the popular holiday destination Port St Johns.
The education department has revealed that a total of 39 schools, with an overall enrolment of 11 616 pupils were affected in the OR Tambo Coastal District.
It said 39 schools had been reported as inaccessible owing to bridges that were swept away by the floods, as well as serious damages to access roads.
The department announced that it had devised a catch-up plan for the pupils who missed out on school.
Four schools had reported structural damages, impacting negatively on teaching and learning, the department announced.
It said the costs of repairing damages to the four schools was estimated at R173 million, subject to further assessment.
As a temporary and immediate relief, the department said it would erect prefabricated classrooms on the grounds of the affected schools.
Preliminary assessments have been concluded at the following five schools:
Meanwhile, health workers led by Eastern Cape Health MEC Nomakhosazana Meth will descend on Port St Johns on Monday, where 1 000 people have been displaced by recent floods, to offer much-needed health services.
The visit comes a week after President Cyril Ramaphosa and Premier Oscar Mabuyane visited the disaster area to assess the extent of the damage.
The displaced residents are currently being sheltered at Green Farm Youth Centre and Jungle Monkey B&B.
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