Local education company Secondary School Internet Resources (SSIR) has launched a venture that offers computer studies online.
This is part of an effort to address the shortage of Grade 12 students with IT skills in the country.
The venture offers computer studies and the new IT further education and training subject that will be examined at matric level in 2008.
Examination and accreditation are done through the examining bodies in the provinces or the independent examination board.
Arnold Lamont, retired teacher and founder of SSIR, explains that the courses are presented online and focus on South African secondary school subjects. "The programming languages offered are Delphi and Java."
Lamont says as far as he knows, SSIR is the only organisation offering this training online in the country. He says learners have an option of learning programming, Web design and spreadsheets, or they can study computer application technology.
The students get to interact with the teachers via e-mail. "The studies makes use of various online IT resources whereby a teacher, learner relationship is developed to discuss the subject matter in a step-by-step process."
Lamont says depending on how the participating school would like to carry out the training, learners can take lessons after school or during a specified computer lessons period.
He points out that teachers who can teach programming are rapidly leaving schools to go into industry, because of financial reasons. "In the IT industry they can double or even triple their salaries."
SSIR ran a pilot project that started in 2002 and so far, two Grade 12 KwaZulu-Natal students, who wrote the computer studies exams, matriculated in 2004 with A and B symbols on higher grade.
Lamont concludes: "By offering IT as a matric subject online, the qualified teachers who are situated in the major cities across the country can play a role in providing opportunities for learners whose schools are unable to provide teachers in this area, specifically rural areas."
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