The Department of Basic Education (DOBE) has published its list of preferred suppliers for the Teacher Laptop Initiative (TLI), paving the way for teachers to acquire computers from approved vendors on credit terms.
The initiative, which was supposed to have been phased in from 1 July 2009, was only introduced at the end of August, following departmental delays. The project will be rolled out over a period of two years and all educators should be provided with laptops by 2011.
Microsoft SA, Hewlett-Packard, Intel, Lenovo, Telkom, Sahara, Symantec, Dimension Data, Dell, Fujistu, Vodacom, MTN, Mustek and Adobe have all been named preferred suppliers.
According to the Government Gazette, every school-based educator employed in terms of the Employment of Educators Act and who occupies a permanent post would be eligible to qualify to participate in the initiative.
Following the gazetted terms, teachers will be expected to source the laptop packages, which meet the department's minimum requirements and conditions, on their own.
The laptops must have a 160GB hard drive, wireless LAN, Ethernet LAN and voice-fax modem Internet connectivity and a Windows XP, or higher, operating system.
The laptop must be loaded with Microsoft Office software, which will be available under a Department of Basic Education-Microsoft agreement to the teachers at a discounted price. The department will also provide content, such as a school administration package and national curriculum materials, which will also be installed on the laptop.
MTN on board
MTN, which was also named as one of the preferred suppliers for the project, says it has put its full weight behind the initiative.
MTN Business has put together packages available exclusively for the initiative and only available to certified teachers. The mobile operator says it will also leverage its experience of providing connectivity to rural areas where the MTN SA Foundation operates for the TLI project.
“With our vast network footprint, which covers almost 99% of the country, and our proven track record in providing quality and seamless telecommunications and ISP services to both government and corporate South Africa, we are in strong position to assist the DOBE in meeting its specific requirements and goals with the TLI project,” says Magadla.
Roll-out programmes
Basic education minister Angie Motshekga previously announced that each province would determine its own roll-out programme, which may include issues such as the granting of subsidies according to seniority, availability of funds and any other factors.
The TLI gained prominence after the Department of Education snubbed a R330 million mobile computer deal with Rectron, which Sadtu nearly penned, to provide its 240 000 members with ultra-mobile low-cost notebooks.
Just before the end of her term as minister of education, Naledi Pandor gazetted the initiative. It would allow permanently employed teachers to be eligible for an allowance to purchase a laptop.
The programme would have provided a stipend of R195.83 per month, over 60 months, to more than 400 000 educators in SA, for a laptop package worth R11 750. President Jacob Zuma then dropped the monthly stipend to R130, over 24 months, with the revised package now being worth R3 120.
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