E-learning drive gathers pace

DIGITISATION of classrooms in Eastern Cape public schools took centre stage at an e-learning summit held in East London, yesterday, under the theme “e-learning an imperative for sustainable quality education”.

Various stakeholders including SABC Education, the education department and the Department of Telecommunications and Postal Services discussed ways to help enhance teaching and learning in the province using Information and Communication Technology.

It was revealed that the pilot projectwas rolled out in the O R Tambo district in the 2016-17 financial year and more than 600 schools and clinics were connected, with two years of free Wi-Fi.

Speaking at the summit, Universal Service and Access Agency of South Africa (USAASA) CEO Lumko Mtimde said: “The target is to cover 80% of the King Sabata Dalindyebo (KSD) and Mhlontlo local municipality with broadband infrastructure.

“We will connect government facilities such as local government and strategic government departments; create opportunities for local entrepreneurs and foster the adoption of e-health,” said Mtimde

Basic Education acting chief director for Curriculum Enhancement of Programmes, Seleki Tlhabane, said they were “not going to just infest classrooms with gadgets”.

“The department has adopted an action plan to 2019 in which we will improve the professionalism, teaching skills, subject knowledge and computer literacy of teachers; ensure the physical infrastructure and environment of every school and also improve the frequency and quality of monitoring and support services at schools by district offices,” he said.

Telecommunications and Postal Services deputy minister Stella Ndabeni-Abrahams, who is set to launch another cyber lab in Cala said: “Teachers need to be at the forefront of this revolution. We may connect all the schools, but if teachers and key stakeholders do not create the relevant content, we will not achieve what we want to achieve.” —