Johannesburg, 19 Jan 2015
The first day of the new academic school year for 2015 saw the launch of the "Big Switch On" project. This is the Gauteng Department of Education's initiative to implement e-learning into the first public township schools, and the realisation of digital and paperless classrooms around Gauteng.
Seven township schools have been equipped with digital technology, including a complete WiFi and Internet network, interactive boards, e-books, and e-learning solutions. Learners and educators have each received tablets to replace textbooks as well as chalkboards.
In his public address on Wednesday, 14 January 2015, MEC Panyaza Lesufi thanked UC-Wireless for playing a major role in the success of the GDE's School of the Future project launch at Boitumelong Secondary School, in Tembisa.
Late in the week leading up to the launch, concerns were raised after no resolution could be found with WiFi connectivity issues and various "concurrent connection stress test" failures with the then recently installed system.
Enoch Thango, Deputy Principal of Sunward Park High (the first public school to go digital), advised that UC-Wireless is the only company with a reliable and fast solution, as it had installed a Ruckus WiFi solution to solve the problems at his school. With the growing evidence of successfully deploying WiFi solutions in many leading schools to date, where now currently over 20 000 learners are reliant on UC-Wireless and Ruckus WiFi, Michael Berger, head of UC-Wireless Education division, felt confident to meet with the GDE to offer the necessary assistance and expertise in resolving the problems.
The UC-Wireless technical team of Gerard Smith, Johan Myburgh and Roan Van Der Walt worked tirelessly over the weekend, installing its credible and reliable Ruckus WiFi solution, under the expert guidance of the MD of UC-Wireless, Quentin Daffarn. Within a 72-hour turnaround time, Lesufi was assured that the "Big Switch On" at the school would be a success.
Now, more than 1 300 learners, educators and staff of Boitumelong Secondary have access to super-fast, reliable WiFi and Internet, with the ability to connect simultaneously via the WiFi with their tablets to the "state-of-the-art" digital technology and e-learning platforms available to them at this aptly named "School of the Future".
Lesufi hailed UC-Wireless as "the new saviour-messiah" for WiFi in schools and for "coming to the rescue". Praise for the reliable and super-fast connectivity was echoed by Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa, who commented: "I tested the connectivity here today and MEC Lesufi is right; it is the fastest I have experienced."
UC-Wireless shares the vision with the Gauteng Department of Education that educational institutions in South Africa need to align and prioritise the implementation of the latest in technology and innovation for all education stakeholders, especially educators, staff, students and learners. The transformation to e-learning, integration of technology, and access to digital educational content through fast and reliable WiFi, is a key enabler for our education system to embrace the future of learning and education as we know it.
UC-Wireless has been operating since 2002. This company specialises in the distribution of complete solutions of wireless integrated communication systems not only the educational sector, but also in other vertical markets, including healthcare, retail, warehousing, hospitality, mining, casino/gaming, production/ industrial and enterprise.
With the explosion of wireless adoption, UC-Wireless is well positioned to take Africa to the next level.
For more information, visit: http://www.uc-wireless.com and http://www.uc-wireles.com/education. Contact Karolina Rafalski at: karolina@krconsulting.co.za.
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