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Eastern Cape Premier Oscar Mabuyane says he is "happy" with the progress made in eradicating mud schools while acknowledging that had the hard work started sooner, the province would have been further down the road in addressing the problem.
Mabuyane was speaking after opening the brand new Tyali Senior Secondary School in Kwa Maxhama Village at Centane on Thursday.
He was accompanied by Education MEC, Fundile Gade, to the school, which boasts amenities that include "three multipurpose centres, three science laboratories, six dining and nutrition centres, computer rooms, three libraries as well as media centres."
The original school, named after Chief Tyali, a descendant of King Rharhabe, was established in 1982.
It now enrols over 1000 learners from Grade 8 to Grade 12, with 31 educators.
Responding to questions from the media on several issues affecting schools in the province, particularly the eradication of mud schools, Mabuyane said Bhisho was "trying to catch up."
"Had we done the work that we are doing now, in the last couple of terms (of office), we would be very far. We would not be talking about mud schools," he said.
The Premier said however that "the system is maturing year by year," adding that the province is now left with "fewer mud schools now than there were in 1994."
Mabuyane also said Bhisho was doing its level best to improve the access roads to schools in deep rural areas of the province.
He said the provincial Department of Transport and Municipalities were "rolling up their sleeves" to ensure that those roads are maintained properly.
On the issue of scholar transport is a problem that we are sorting out.
"It's a systems issue which has been left like that for some time, but it is being sorted," he said.
