It costs the Gauteng Department of Education (GDE) R350 000 to equip a school computer laboratory. This is the estimated value of the computer lab that was initially installed at the JS Mpanza Primary School in Diepkloof.
A communications system worth hundreds of thousands of rands stands useless in the school.
Damaria Senne, senior journalist
It is, however, difficult to quantify the value of lost opportunities, disappointment and discouragement suffered when it became clear that the information superhighway would remain inaccessible to the school.
The school says that at the time of the lab installation, there was great excitement in the school and the surrounding community. Learners looked forward to being able to use the computers. Teachers would have access to a great resource and community members were assured that a skills development programme would soon be launched to facilitate their access.
Eighteen months later, the school remains unconnected to the information superhighway. In fact, principal Grace Sithole has to hand out the school clerk`s cellphone number to those who wish to contact her. She also has an arrangement with a small Soweto-based company to accept e-mails on her behalf.
All this while a communications system worth hundreds of thousands of rands stands useless in her school.
The GDE could probably argue that this is an isolated case, and that the media is sensationalising one or two isolated incidents. However, based on my research, I doubt JS Mpanza is the only school where the lab is not functioning as intended.
This means there is a possibility that more than R350 000, maybe R700 000, or maybe even R1 million of taxpayers` money is lying fallow somewhere, failing to benefit the disadvantaged community for which it was meant.
I think the GDE should double-check its monitoring systems. Are the computers turned on and tested onsite in front of the principal before the technicians declare the installation complete?
Are fault-reporting phone calls logged and signed off once they have been attended to? Have they put in place a system of prioritising requests for help, so that those whose need is much greater are attended to as a matter of urgency?
Setting up computer labs in public schools was a well-meant and innovative proposal, one that the GDE and all its partners should be commended for. It would be a pity to have such a programme gain a reputation of failure based on implementation and details.
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