NEW BOTHA’S HALTE PRIMARY SCHOOL
Project Description
The new facilities currently under construction and development for the primary school community of Bothas Halte are being followed with high anticipation. The need for the creation of a new school has arisen since the current primary school could no longer meet the challenges of the modern age.
The project entails the development of a new Primary School complex to replace the small and outdated Botha’s Halte NG farm school, located off the R43 in the Breede River Valley. The National Curriculum is followed and the teachers are supported by the WCED regarding teachers’ and subject development. The school strives to maintain a high standard.
The new building complex provides a state-of-the-art, world-class school facility to primary school learners from not only the Farmprops 53 but also other farms in the vicinity of the project. The fully fitted and furnished building accommodates up to 210 Grade 1 – 7 learners and up to 30 Grade R learners.
Included as part of the school complex is an auditorium-type multipurpose hall, three fully fitted-out specialist classrooms with sewing machines, handwork and woodwork equipment, and music instruments, as well as a state of the art science laboratory. Additionally, a Discovery Centre is located in the centre of the complex. Here learners sit under the impressive “tree-of-knowledge columns” and make use of the multi-media equipment, a screened off the audio-visual area and good old fashioned library books.
Project beneficiaries
The aim of the New Bothas Halte Primary School is to demonstrate how 21 st century technologies can be utilised to reach and contribute to quality education in rural and outlying areas of South Africa. The school building showcases best practice from around the world with regards to the employment of digital technology throughout the teaching spaces.
Modern technological aids such as “e-beam”, large screen televisions, tablets and the Internet are also used as additional learning resources.
Through virtual education, high-quality education can be provided at Bothas Halte Primary School, the Breede Valley and beyond. Currently, it is envisaged that Mathematics and Literacy can be presented through virtual interactive education by subject specialists during normal classroom hours to all seven schools, which are spread over a distance of approximately 25 kilometres. Providing education by using the internet, creates great excitement and possibilities amongst everybody involved.
In addition, Bothas Halte Primary School play an important role in improving education in the broad education system within the wider area of the Breede River Valley, through a joint project with SUNCEP.
Play and Learn
Externally, two Astroturf external play areas are provided, one for older learners for formal and competitive play with stepped spectator seating, and the other, a secure and intimate exploratory play area for younger learners.
The school buildings have been designed around ecological and sustainability principles to fit into the landscape, with indigenously planted roofs, and vegetable gardens demonstrating ecological principles as part of the teaching process. The building operates largely off the electrical grid, with solar and wind generator capacity. These aspects are also clearly demonstrated to learners via interactive displays throughout the school. Due to water scarcity and the general arid nature of this part of the valley, rainwater and stormwater are harvested and stored in a large reservoir under the school buildings, from where the school grounds are then irrigated. The reservoir is topped up by a borehole as well as the clean treated effluent from the sewerage package plant.