So what’s special about Mokone Maruping Primary School?

The opening of Mokone Maruping Primary School fulfills the promise to the people of Gauteng that we will open a new school once every month.

Mokone Maruping Primary School is located in the North West of Johannesburg and it caters for approximately 1 200 learners from Grade R to Grade 7.

The school is a modern information technology ready facility with a design based on a prototype that incorporates the Department of Education National Schools Infrastructure Norms and Standards.

The school falls in the mega school category to respond to the demand for spaces in the area and Gauteng province. The school boasts the following unique facilities and features:

• 33 smart classrooms:
  • 5 Grade R classrooms,
  • 12 Foundation Phase classrooms,
  • 12 Intermediate Phase classrooms, and
  • 4 Senior classrooms.

• 2 Smart Science laboratories
• 1 Multi-purpose hall
• 1 Computer Laboratory
• IT Control Room
• A Library
• Nutrition Centre with Dining Hall
• School Main Hall
• Audio Visual Computer Laboratory
• Clear-Vu Fencing
• Covered walkways
• Sports facility
• Soccer and netball field
• Combi courts (to accommodate Netball, Basketball and Tennis Courts)
• Plant Room
• A Guard Room
• 5 Courtyards

To save on electrical power, LPG gas supplies have been installed in the 2 Science labs and the Nutrition centre. In the science labs, gas reticulation is installed against the walls which connected onto a twin gas tap which is used by learners for carrying out experiments.

A gas cooker has also been installed in the nutrition centre for the preparation of hot meals. The school is also a green school with the following:

• Roof Insulation (reduces energy loss from the buildings)
• Glazing (that maximises natural light into the building and reduces energy loss from the building)
• Energy saving lighting (LED Light fittings)
• Rainwater harvesting
• Landscaping
• Insulated walls for heat conservation and soundproof.

The school is named after a community activist Mokone Maruping who was born in 1947 in Alexandra township and passed on in April 1999.

Maruping was a leader in the Civic Association and worked as a Chairperson of Zone 9 sub branch of the civic and was later elected as the first democratically elected Councillor. He was known for his multiple roles in the community.

The total cost of the project is R 98 million and it was constructed in 2 phases. Phases 1 was completed in December 2016 and Phase 2 will be completed by end of May 2017.

The School Hall and Sports field will be completed during phase two. However, the school is 93% completed and started operating on January 2017.

The economic impact during the construction phase included:

• A total of approximately 278 jobs were created, of which 230 were local. Of the total 149 were male youth and 44 were female youth. Total number of women employed was 60.
• 18 local sub-contractors were appointed.

MEC Mamabolo has issued the Department of Education with a certificate of completion of construction.

This document certifies that the construction of the school is complete, in compliance with the Department of Basic Education (DBE) requirements and specifications.

He appealed to the community to look after the school and report any acts of vandalism. “This is your asset, protect it and take care of it”, said MEC Mamabolo.

These township schools boast high-end learning facilities and will ensure that “our learners will get quality education where they reside”, said MEC for Education Panyaza Lesufi.

Already, we are reaping the benefits of the investment being made in township schools. In the 2016 National Senior Certificate, township schools made us proud by contributing substantially to the overall pass. Remarkably out the 32 schools that achieved a 100% pass rate, 8 are from the township