There is an urgent need to further explore ICT solutions to support administration, teaching and learning in schools, says basic education minister Angie Motshekga.
Speaking at a roundtable on ICT support for teaching and learning, Motshekga said these ICT solutions may include using educational programming, the Internet, radio and TV broadcasting of lessons.
The roundtable was convened by the Department of Basic Education (DBE) and included stakeholders from the ICT industry, as well as department officials.
“Without the participation of and engagement with key stakeholders in the ICT sector, any exploration of technology as an enabler of quality teaching and learning in the classroom would be an exercise in futility,” said Motshekga.
Quality booster
She said the department is developing an effective strategy for using ICT as an enabler in classrooms.
The aim of the roundtable discussion was to explore how best ICT can be used to support teaching and learning in the classroom, the fundamental aim being to improve the quality of education.
“Systemic evaluation and international testing programmes, the Southern and Eastern Africa Consortium for Monitoring Educational Quality and the Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study, speak to the underperformance of our learners in mathematics, science and English,” said the minister.
She added that the department's strategy to overcome this is to incorporate the use of ICT in the education system.
Blending in
The minister also said ICT has the potential to enhance the quality of education through its ability to support blended learning, combining traditional classroom practice with e-learning solutions; creating learner-centred learning environments; and increasing access among learners to a wide range of multimedia, including computers.
Motshekga added that ICT can increase access to learning opportunities beyond the classroom; expose learners to practical ICT skills that are transferable to the workplace; encourage learners to take responsibility for their own learning; and enable SA as a country to bridge the digital divide.
In light of this, the department's expectations from the ICT strategy is to have ICT solutions supporting administration, teaching and learning in schools; and supporting teaching and learning in rural, small, farm and multi-grade teaching schools.
Another expectation of the strategy is to gain teacher training and professional development in ICT.
Official strategy
“Our work in this area of ICT in education will have to be guided by the 2004 White Paper on e-Education, which presents six strategic objectives.”
Motshekga listed these objectives as: ICT professional development for management, teaching and learning; electronic content resource development and distribution; access to ICT infrastructure; connectivity; community engagement; and research and development.
She also said the department's “Action Plan to 2014” sets out the critical role to be played by the e-education strategy.
“It emphasises the need to enrich education by increasing access of learners to a wide range of media, including computers and the Internet.
“We hope to exploit the potential of ICT mainly as an 'enabler and equaliser' in our education system. This is one way of addressing inequalities arising from the apartheid legacy.”
The minister added that more detail would be given on the strategy on 13 April during the department's budget vote in Parliament.
Foreign approval
Speaking about the allocation of the R1.1 billion that was given to the DBE by the European Union (EU) in November, ambassador of the EU Lodewijk Bri"et said technology has a great role to play in education.
“I see endless possibilities on how science, technology and innovation could assist in, for example, achieving universal primary education in SA.”
The DBE confirmed that a portion of the funding will be set aside for ICT in education and e-education.
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