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Budget boost for Gauteng education

Simnikiwe Mzekandaba
By Simnikiwe Mzekandaba, IT in government editor
Johannesburg, 27 May 2016
All of Gauteng's schools and learners will have access to smart devices by 2019, says education MEC Panyaza Lesufi.
All of Gauteng's schools and learners will have access to smart devices by 2019, says education MEC Panyaza Lesufi.

The Gauteng Department of Education (GDE) has a budget of R39 billion for the 2016/17 financial year, according to MEC Panyaza Lesufi.

Delivering his budget vote speech yesterday, Lesufi noted the department's allocation grew by 8.4%, an increase of R3 billion compared to last year's R36 billion.

The budget increase will prove vital as the GDE aims to bring schools in the province in line with ICT initiatives.

"In the 2016/17 financial year, the department has allocated R1.062 billion for the transformative ICT in education initiative, of which R200 million is allocated for learning and teaching support materials," said Lesufi.

"R462.4 million is for teacher and learner devices and classroom smart boards, and R400 million for renovations and refurbishments.

"The investment we are making through the ICT rollout is intended to benefit schools and the broader community. ICT schools are community assets. We urge communities to join forces with schools in their area, to protect these assets against opportunistic criminal elements that would seek to damage or loot the school property, even going as far as to inflict harm on learners who benefit from the technology rollout."

Smart classrooms

According to Lesufi, the department is making great progress in enabling the tech-enabled learning environment.

Last year, the GDE began its "paperless classroom" initiative by equipping more than 300 Soweto high schools with high-speed broadband connectivity, interactive smartboards and e-content, and giving tablets to grade 12 learners, while teachers received laptops.

"The department intends expanding the project to cover grade 11 in 2016/17, grade 10 and nine in 2017/18 and finalise with grade eight in 2018/19.

"A targeted number of schools, including primary schools, would be adopted, especially at senior grades as the rollout to classes in lower grades might yield minimal results. It is anticipated that all schools would be reached by the end of the 2018/19 financial year.

"To achieve the ultimate vision of a paperless classroom, the department must further develop its teachers and learners in its institutions. Teacher training, improvements to school infrastructure and the distribution of educational devices are key to achieving this vision. An intensive teacher and principal training programme is being developed to orientate and train teachers and managers on the integrated use of technology to improve curriculum delivery in the classroom."

Specialised learning

In line with Gauteng's transformation, modernisation and reindustrialisation framework, the department is modernising and improving public education.

Lesufi explained the department has introduced ICT to create a tech-enabled teaching and learning environment to improve education outcomes with a focus on learner performance and attainment.

The GDE has increased access to mathematics, science and technical subjects in township schools to address the historical exclusion, he noted.

To further increase access to specialised education, the GDE plans to reposition 28 schools as institutions of specialisation over time. These schools will offer a combination of five disciplines: mathematics, science and ICT; engineering; commerce and entrepreneurship; sport and art.

The first of these specialised schools is the Curtis Nkondo School of Specialisation, which was opened in Soweto earlier this month. Located at Emdeni Extension, it accommodates 390 grade eight and nine learners who will have access to computer labs; combi courts for netball, tennis, basketball and volleyball; a soccer pitch; a library as well as free access to the Internet.

"The use of technology will enhance teaching quality by giving both teachers and learners access to extensive learning material, through the use of smart boards, tablet devices and smart software in the classroom, including digital exercises and lessons," Lesufi stated.

Online systems

While the Gauteng schools online registration process for the 2017 academic year got off to a rocky start, the department has weathered the storm and has received 680 000 online applications so far, according to Lesufi.

To drive online school registrations, the provincial department launched a Web site for learner admissions last month. As part of its technology adoption mandate, the department advised all parents whose children will be doing grade one and eight in 2017 to apply online for their school admissions.

According to the GDE, for the 2015 academic year, it received 30 000 late applications, which resulted in the department supplying additional alternative classrooms to accommodate learners.

However, the service set up to minimise long queues during the learner registration period was wrought with issues on debut, which the department termed as "unforeseen challenges".

These included the Web site crashing several times and attempts to hack the admissions site.

The GDE revealed over 300 hacking attempts were made on the department's Web site since it went live mid-April. The department concluded the objectives for the hacking remained unknown.

The online leaner application period is open until 1 June. The placement of learners will take place from 24 June until 25 July.

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