ICT Workshop brings education sector one step closer to realising ICT improvement goals
The Department of Basic Education is committed to utilising ICT to improve learning and teaching outcomes across the education system and opening up access to 21st learning and teaching solutions.
In partnership with the National Education Collaboration Trust, DBE concluded a two day ICT Workshop aimed at developing a realistic and implementable national strategy highlighting key priorities for the education system.
Developed with the vision of fostering an enabling environment for the full scale implementation of ICT guided improvement initiatives, the workshop sought, amongst others to:
- Take stock of ICTs in the current situation
- Consolidate a shared vision for ICT in education taking into account realistic economic considerations
- Develop a common understanding of which are the key priorities (most relevant/most feasible) of a national ICT strategy
- Reach an agreement on how to accelerate progress moving forward
- Define clear roles and responsibilities for top management, implementing partners, private sector
Utilizing ICT’s in education has had a positive impact in accelerating the achievement of national education goals. E-Education is about enhancing learning and teaching outcomes and to advance professional support services.
Speaking at the workshop Minister Motshekga said major strides have been made in ICT education thus far. “We have provided approximately 92% of our schools with at least one computer for administrative purposes and with 28% of schools using computers or other devices to enhance teaching and learning; as well as ensuring that 49% of our schools are reported to having access to connectivity.”
This commitment has further been entrenched by the National Development Plan (NDP) which states that ICT is seen as an enabler with the potential to speed up delivery, support analysis, build intelligence and create new ways to share information, learn and engage, important attributes in the drive to continually improve the quality of education outputs.
Furthermore, the completion of Operation Phakisa formed a critical turning point in the journey towards realizing full scale implementation of ICT’s within the education sector, setting the tone for the expansion and adoption of ideas at the ICT Workshop.
Off the back of Operation Phakisa and the ICT Workshop, the department’s vision for full-scale ICT connectivity in schools by 2020 continues to draw closer and becomes a vision within reach as the goal of delivering on the expectations of the NDP remains top of mind. This marks an overdue turning point in the quest to transform teaching and learning through the appropriate use of ICTs as envisioned by the 2004 White Paper on e-education.
Enquiries:
Elijah Mhlanga
Cell: 083 580 8275
Troy Martens
Cell: 079 899 3070
