The provision of laptop computers to permanently employed teachers in public schools is soon to become a Âcondition of service, with almost R3-billion being made available over the next five years.
However, teacher unions have warned that training on the use of the computers is imperative, while analysts emphasise that the education department must monitor benefits to the system or the money will be lost.
Firoz Patel, the education department’s deputy director general of system planning and monitoring, told the Teacher that R550-million per annum over five years will be handed to the provinces for the provision of the laptops.
This comes in the wake of Education Minister Naledi Pandor’s mantra that schools must provide quality education. “She (Pandor) realises that quality education is often elusive and that the computer can catapult one over the tedious development route,” said Patel.
He said the department wants to give teachers the tools to develop and to make the revised outcomes-based education (OBE) system work. Many teachers have been inadequately trained under the OBE system and some do not understand the content they are expected to teach, resulting in learners performing poorly.
Patel said it could take 10 years to retrain teachers at great costs but, through the use of computers, Âtraining could be accelerated and materials could be made available. “They could have access to lesson plans, for example.”
He said: “Every qualifying teacher (public paid and permanent) will be entitled to a computer on application…Investigations are under way around whether the computers will be an outright purchase, a monthly subsidy for a period of five years, or an allowance.”
Different models are being assessed and a decision could be taken in the next six months. Implementation is expected to occur in the 2009-10 financial year. “The unions and provinces are aware of the investigation. However, no formal consultations with the unions will take place until investigations into the feasibility are complete.”
One model could entail teachers receiving R1 500 annually and choosing their laptops according to their needs, but there would be norms and standards. Depending on the package they choose, teachers might have to top up from their own funds.
Patel said computers could be replaced after five years and the subsidy or allowance will be a benefit for the duration of the teacher’s career. He said the allowance or subsidy will cover internet usage through a data card or fixed line, while the marketplace has wind-up generators or solar-powered batteries to accommodate teachers in the rural areas.
No face-to-face training is envisaged, but the use of software to assist training is being investigated.
Thulas Nxesi, the general secretary of the South African Democratic Teachers’ Union, welcomed the initiative, but emphasised that training must be “part of the product”.
For John Pampallis, head of the Centre for Education Policy Development, the initiative is a “good idea” and it sends the message that teachers are valued, but some training and guidance on how to find information on the internet and the use of websites is needed.
The National Professional Teachers’ Organisation of South Africa president, Esrah Ramaselha, said: “We always welcome any sort of assistance that will help teachers to do their jobs, but pulling this off will be a tall order for the department…We haven’t been in discussion with the department on what sort of training, if any, will be provided and we need to look at this carefully.”
He said laptops alone will not turn the situation around. “There are other issues that also need to be dealt with, such as poor infrastructure, lack of textbooks and proper teacher training”.
Education researcher Russell Wildeman of the Institute for Democracy in South Africa said it is important that the education department monitors the benefits to the system. “You can’t just give away computers. You must monitor and evaluate the outcomes.”