The entrance to Tamboerskloof Primary School.
Tamboerskloof Primary School is one of 41 Western Cape schools that will have a solar plant and battery storage system installed to keep the lights on during load shedding.
According to the Western Cape Education Deparment, the projects are funded by the schools, either through School Governing Body (SGB) funds, or by entering into lease agreements with solar leasing firms.
It’s estimated that Tamboerskloof will receive solar panels to the value of R820 800 with an output of 47.0kwp.
“When there is load shedding in the morning, specifically in winter, it’s really dark inside the school and the classrooms so it doesn’t feel safe for the kids. We bought lights that do go on when there’s no electricity so it’s not completely dark,” said the school principal Randall Abrahams.
“The teachers can’t use the interactive whiteboards, the computers and there’s also no wi-fi during load shedding.”
He said the solar panels should be installed during the upcoming school holidays.