In a few years from now, South African universities and public research organisations will be connected to each other at a minimum speed of 10 Gigabits per second as a result of at least R886-million investment into the South African National Research and Education Network (SANREN) project since 2007.
Deputy Minister for Higher Education and Training, Professor Hlengiwe Mkhize, reflected on this fact on the eve of her departure for a two-day Southern African ICT for Education Summit in Zimbabwe where she will make a presentation on “Investment in ICT for Higher Education” in South Africa.
Professor Mkhize will deliver her presentation tomorrow, on Thursday 26 January, to Ministers and Deputy Ministers from various countries in the Southern African region and top leadership of global ICT industry players who will be in attendance.
While counting poverty, poor infrastructure in rural areas, patriarchy and the unavailability of enabling gadgets for disabled people among the key barriers to ICT access in higher education in South Africa, Professor Mkhize is quick to point out that government investment in ICT infrastructure will ensure an effective utilisation of ICT tools in education.
With South Africa is ranked at 61 out of 138 countries world-wide on the network readiness index, government has made significant investments in ICT infrastructure to turn the situation around, use ICT more to benefit the higher education sector and improve the country’s global rating on the index.
“At least R500-million has been allocated for the rollout of a national wireless broadband network by Sentech, and this will be specifically focused on rural areas. The intention is to connect learning institutions located in rural areas to each other and to other institutions in the country, while at the same time fostering collaboration and exchange of information,” Professor Mkhize says.
She says an additional R300-million has been allocated to upgrade the country’s existing broadband, increase the network’s capacity and reach and provide a backbone for Sentech’s broadband network.
“This is in addition to the R886-million that has been invested in the SANREN Project over the past five years, and this is the country’s broadband connectivity network for public research institutions and universities which is also linked to international network,” says Deputy Minister Mkhize.
The Southern African ICT for Education Summit 2012 has Ministers of Education, as well as Ministers of Information and Communication Technology from Kenya, Mozambique, Tanzania, Botswana, Zambia, Rwanda, Burundi, Malawi, South Africa and the host country Zimbabwe deliberating on the issues over two days from tomorrow.
Representatives from universities, global ICT industry players, the USAID, UNESCO, the African Development Bank andthe Association for the Development of Education in Africa are some of the stakeholders participating in this event, which is a follow-up from the first one that was held in Morocco in July last year.
Enquiries:
Vuyelwa Qinga
Cell: 076 883 4144
E-mail: Qinga.V@dhet.gov.za
Deputy Minister Mkhize to address SADC Ministers on South Africa’s ICT investment in Higher Education
