Gauteng’s paperless classrooms are not ready

21 July 2015

The Democratic Alliance (DA) fully supports the introduction of innovative learning and teaching in schools.

The launch led by Gauteng Education MEC, Panyaza Lesufi, at Protea Glen Secondary school brings hope to innovation in education.

However, the DA visited several Gauteng schools yesterday to assess the readiness of wireless implementation and paperless teaching.

Despite the MEC’s claims that the system is on track for the new term, the DA discovered numerous schools in Soweto where no interactive boards installed.

This includes: Phefeni Secondary School, Orlando West High School, Lamula Jubilee Secondary School, Meadowlands High School, Selelekela Secondary School, Fons Luminis Secondary School, Orlando East High and Emadwaleni Secondary School which had only one classroom connected.

This delay has an impact on teaching and learning as old chalkboards have been removed from Grade 12 classes. It also came to the DA's attention that not all Grade 12 teachers have been trained how to use the new technology; rather only two champions per school received comprehensive training.

This state of affairs will only compromise the remainder of the school year, and in particular, the future of our matriculants.

The DA has written to the MEC to intervene so that contractors complete their work urgently to ensure that learning and teaching will not be disrupted beyond this week.

We have also asked the MEC to ensure that teacher development programmes prioritizing all secondary school teachers be rolled out immediately.

Statement issued by Khume Ramulifho MPL, DA Shadow MEC: Education, July 21 2015