3Com donates R5m equipment to SA schools

3Com SA has called upon South African IT companies to pledge their support to schools that are in dire need of IT equipment through the provision of services or products. This follows 3Com`s donation of R5 million`s worth of networking equipment to the KwaZulu-Natal, Eastern Cape and Free State`s Provincial Departments of Education.

Maurizio Zussa at 3Com states that the networking equipment now paves the way for other IT companies to donate PCs, software and other solutions. "By providing networking switches we, for example, enable the schools to establish networking facilities that in turn allow them to connect PCs as well as obtain valuable Internet connectivity."

Education worldwide is a key focus area for 3Com, which is why the company continues to provide practical easy-to-use solutions that enable schools to achieve academic excellence effectively and economically.

The networking equipment will cater for up to 1 700 schools in KwaZulu-Natal as part of the province`s School Connectivity Project. According to Professor Manoj Maharaj of the University of KwaZulu-Natal, the province is about 10 years behind other provinces.

"The target in Gauteng is to have at least 10 to 20 computers per school - we are still battling to get one computer for administration purposes per school."

However, with 3Com`s donation, the KwaZulu-Natal department believes it is well on its way to crossing the first major obstacles, enabling children to become computer literate and self-sufficient.

"It is through initiatives such as the KZN Schools Connectivity Project that schools will be capable of enhancing their classroom efficiencies, improve administrative productivity and cater for student access to online resources," comments Zussa.

"Through integrated facilities, vibrant collaborative communities can be formed with parents, teachers and students."

Despite 3Com`s donation, the reality is that schools in all three provinces still require a lot of equipment, which is why it is key that other IT vendors also pledge their support.

In KwaZulu-Natal, for example, only an estimated 600 schools have PCs, which means that approximately 1 100 schools still require PCs in order to benefit from 3Com`s networking equipment donation.

"It is, therefore, critical that other IT companies contribute to assist these schools in becoming computerised, which in turn will set the foundation for current and future computing skills upliftment that will benefit thousands of children from all three provinces," says Zussa.