Speech by Honourable Minister Dr Siyabonga Cwele (MP), Minister of Telecommunications and Postal Services, on the occasion of the ICT Laboratory handover at St. Francis College, Mariannhill, KwaZulu-Natal
Honourable guests
In many ways, the World Wide Web is the single most important technological invention of the last century. The Internet, in general, and broadband technologies, in particular, allow ever-increasing amounts of information to travel through cyberspace at the press of a button.
In the education arena, content and delivery of instruction can be tailored to the needs of learners. High levels of learner-learner and learner-teacher interactivity have become possible. Learners can use the Internet’s vast information databases to acquire and expand their knowledge. In doing so, they will develop skills critical to lifelong learning. They will become knowledge gatherers, knowledge receivers, and knowledge transmitters.
This is one side of the coin.
The other side is that the global network of networks is not open to all. Many millions of people are victims of the digital famine we have come to know as the digital divide. In a global economy fuelled by knowledge and information, it is extremely difficult to break the shackles of stagnation without the help of Information and Communication Technologies.
The digital divide is real. It is growing and it effects are crippling.
We have to bridge the divide by expanding the information revolution to such an extent that we can truly speak of the World Wide Web.
We have to produce knowledge workers that can steer Africa’s integration into the global economy.
We need to harness Information and Communication Technology so that it can transform the world of education.
To achieve a new dimension in learning, and to prepare students for the knowledge economy, it is necessary that teachers are assisted to integrate digital tools and content into the curriculum. Teachers must furthermore be trained to take full advantage of technology. This is absolutely crucial. Students will not excel in a digital environment unless teachers are as comfortable with a computer as they are with a blackboard.
At the same time, those teachers who work so diligently to bring future generations into a knowledge-based society, who guide and develop their pupils, who make a difference in the young lives under their care, must be recognised and rewarded. They must know their endeavours, their sacrifices, do not go unnoticed. They must know there are many people, communities and organisations that regard them as heroes.
Today’s gathering marks a new and exciting beginning in the history of St. Francis College. As the learners here and the community of Mariannhill now have a fully-equipped computer laboratory with state of the art equipment and technology, this day will be remembered as the first of many steps to close the dreaded digital divide.
As part of the State IT Agency (SITA) 2014 GovTech legacy programme and in recognising the plight of millions of children in our country, the Ministry of Telecommunications and Postal Services and SITA came together to realise this dream of an e-learning solution in a fully-equipped computer laboratory valued at approximately R500 000 (five hundred thousand rand).
Ladies and gentlemen, it is important to note that this Information and Communications Technology (ICT) Lab will is fully equipped to assist teachers to expand their teaching methods. As the Ministry, together with SITA we view this ICT Lab as an incubator which will produce many learners from this community who will go on to produce many ICT specialists.
This Computer Lab consists of a multi seat solution, the server, cabinet, network switch, cabling and air conditioners. SITA will also ensure the provision of ICT integration training for teachers and learners, additional infrastructure requirements, internet connectivity as well as ongoing technical maintenance and support of the ICT Lab.
The launch of the Lab is also one of the facets which demonstrate how Government and its State Owned Entities (SOEs) effectively deliver on the national agenda of improving the lives of citizens through the provision of better services. This initiative is also a great contributor towards the success stories of our government’s 20 years of democracy.
We do this because we want South Africa to succeed, and because we know that skilled, productive individuals who make meaningful contributions and live rewarding lives are shaped by the education system and by teachers who acknowledge the learner as the focus of the educational process, no matter what.
Today we take another step on this journey of ours. Today we re-affirm our belief that teachers cannot dwell on the outskirts of the information society. Today we once again proclaim that for teachers to bring future generations into a knowledge-based society, they must, as I said, be as comfortable with a computer as they are with the blackboard.
Today we also honour the memory of our beloved Madiba, a man who was passionate about giving children a brighter future.
Thank you.
