ICT spend in education slows

Johannesburg, 24 Jun 2009

Although ICT is still a key part of education, budget allocations make it difficult to successfully implement technology programmes, says the Department of Education (DOE).

While the department was allocated R21 billion for its 2009/10 medium-term expenditure, ICT programmes did not receive any of that funding.

The DOE has recently been split into the Department of Basic Education and the Department of Higher Education and Training - but will only table separate budgets in 2010.

The DOE explains that R10 million was requested for ICT for each of the three years to 2010, but it was granted the entire R30 million in the 2007/8 financial year. The department did not receive any allocations for its ICT programmes for the 2008/9 and 2009/10 financial periods.

In its medium-term strategy and budget announcements, the department said this allocation had created management problems. It noted that feasibility studies on how to implement and improve ICT in colleges and schools were under way, and that it was expected to rush projects through.

“And where you find that we requested R10 million a year for three years, as you are doing your research to get to a final result on how to implement it - you suddenly find that you are awarded R30 million in year one and nothing in the two other years. You can't do a three-year [project] in one year and those kinds of things really create problems for the department,” stated Philip Benade, CFO, administration branch, DOE.

The department noted allocations are set to increase to R25 billion in 2010/11 and again in 2011/12 to R28 billion - but that additional funding would be for administrative purposes. Despite the under-funding of ICT, the DOE maintains ICT programmes remain important.

Constrained Dinaledi

The DOE said a key focus area is to support the growth of colleges, which requires the upgrading and development of ICT. It conceded the Dinaledi schools had not received adequate support in the past. The focus for the 500 schools would be on the improvement of infrastructure and creating a better learning environment, the department said.

Efforts would be made to improve access and infrastructure, but because of economic restraints, not all the 500 schools could be assisted at the same time through recapitalisation, the DOE said. Currently, 33 schools had been targeted for new development efforts. The department added it would continue to support the National Maths, Science and Technology strategy through the Dinaledi schools and the recapitalisation of technology schools across the country.

The department also welcomed the recent roll-out of laptops for teachers, saying the initiative would give educators opportunities, but noted there is a need for improved teacher training programmes on the use of technology. ICT in the form of hardware, software and business management information and education portals would also be key in its support of skills programmes, the department stated.

Information systems

Another focus area for the next three years will be on strengthening its Education Management Information Systems (Emis) and the implementation of the national Learner Unit Record Information and Tracking System (Lurits), the DOE revealed. While the budget for these systems is R115 million, the department explained this is for planning and not implementation.

Provinces are currently implementing Lurits incrementally across the country and it will be fully operational by January 2010, with the first national dataset available in March 2010. The system will contain over 12 million individual learner records per year and aims to track the movement of each learner from school to school throughout their school careers.

The department says it will strengthen Emis to enhance planning, monitoring and reporting on education expenditure, and analyse and report on the requirements and capacity of human resources.