LANDIWE DLAMINI reports
MORE than 140 Mpumalanga high schools in townships and rural areas will for the first time in South Africa be linked to the William Smith learning channel on SABC television from Thursday, African Eye News Service reports.
It is sponsored by Liberty Life, and on Monday education spokesman Peter Maminza said that for the first time the channel would form part of the school curriculum.
Pupils will be able to phone in questions to Smith during his show.
So far 141 of 600 high schools in the province have said they would participate. The linkup will start at Middelburg on Thursday, and Maminza said schools without telephone lines and TV sets should motivate parents and residents in their areas to get them.
The channel covers English, mathematics, biology, physical science, and accounting. Mpumalanga schools got a 52% pass rate in 1998, and 48% last year, and Maminza said the channel was aimed at a better matric pass rate.
It would not be a substitute for teachers, but would supplement their work, he added. Schools will have to pay for the electricity and telephone calls.
— African Eye News Service, January 18, 2000.