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Paperless classrooms hit a snag

Simnikiwe Mzekandaba
By Simnikiwe Mzekandaba, IT in government editor
Johannesburg, 23 Aug 2016
The GDE has decided to postpone the rollout of the paperless classroom project to grade 11 classrooms.
The GDE has decided to postpone the rollout of the paperless classroom project to grade 11 classrooms.

Plans to issue tablets to the grade 11 class of 2016 as part of the Gauteng Department of Education's (GDE's) paperless classroom project have been put on ice as the department decides what steps to take going forward.

Following implementation of the paperless classroom initiative to benefit grade 12 learners last year, the GDE planned to roll out the project to grade 11 classrooms in 377 no-fee township schools during 2016.

However, the department says it has decided to postpone further deployment, based on a number of reasons.

GDE MEC Panyaza Lesufi says: "First, the department had to address residual challenges from the grade 12 project, including theft of smart boards and tablets not returned by learners or returned in a bad shape. Second, financial constraints have also delayed the rollout to grade 11."

To enable a tech-enabled learning environment, Lesufi's department decided to introduce the paperless classroom initiative and switch from chalkboards to smart boards.

As part of the pilot phase, seven schools were equipped with interactive boards, as well as high-speed broadband connectivity, laptops, e-content and tablets. By the end of 2015, the project was extended to grade 12 classrooms in 377 no-fee township schools.

Despite the various challenges that came with implementing the paperless classroom project, the department managed to record important gains, according to Lesufi.

Lesufi says 1 800 grade 12 classrooms were refurbished and smart boards installed, 3 393 grade 12 educators were trained in using ICT in education and provided laptops, and 64 000 grade 12 learners were provided tablets that have relevant e-learning content as well as well connectivity.

"The department has learnt valuable lessons and is now ready to proceed, albeit with a refined programme for grade 11," he says.

According to Lesufi, when resumed, the next steps during the current academic year will include refurbishing 2 134 classrooms and installing smart boards and e-boards, especially for accounting and mathematics. "Learners will come to a changed classroom after the September break."

He adds: "3 000 grade 11 teachers have been trained on the use of ICT in education. In addition, these teachers will be provided a teaching laptop."

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