Deputy Speaker, the Department of Basic Education developed the guidelines relating to planning for public school infrastructure. These guidelines were published on 15 May 2012.
They emanate from the policy of an equitable provision of an enabling school, a physical teaching and learning environment. Its goal is to provide guidance - guidance, not prescription - on the basic mix of education resources inputs that are required to facilitate functionality in our schools. This also provides the basis for benchmarking school facilities and for the development of a basic mix of education resources inputs that facilitate the minimum to optimum functionality of the school. The aim of the guidelines is to ensure that our learners experience the same educational environment irrespective of where the school is located. These guidelines are aimed at improving access to quality education facilities and towards realising Outcomes 1 and 12 of the Government Plan of Action. These guidelines can be accessed on our website, www.education.gov.za.