STATUS REPORT ON THE STATUS REPORT ON THE IMPLEMENTATION OF IMPLEMENTATION OF

E-EDUCATIONE-EDUCATIONPRESENTATION TO THE EDUCATION PORTFOLIO COMMITEE PRESENTATION TO THE EDUCATION PORTFOLIO COMMITEE

20 August 201320 August 2013Mr H M MweliMr H M Mweli

PURPOSEPURPOSETo report to the Education Portfolio Committee on the status of e-Education Implementation.

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FOCUS OF THE REPORTFOCUS OF THE REPORTThe presentation will address status of ICT in provinces in the following areas:– Status of ICT infrastructure in Schools

• Multi-grade schools– Status of Teacher Training & Professional Development in

ICT– Status of Connectivity in Provinces

• District offices• Schools Initiatives

– Dinaledi Schools– Proof of Concept Districts– Digital Content Development– Implementation Plan– General Challenges of ICT in Education Implementation

E- EDUCATION POLICY GOALE- EDUCATION POLICY GOAL

Every South African learner in the general and further education and training bands will be ICT capable (that is, use ICTs confidently and creatively to help develop the skills and knowledge they need to achieve personal goals and to be full participants in the global community) by 2013.

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THE ACTION PLANTHE ACTION PLANThe Action Plan to 2014 (goals 16 and 20) requires e-Education to provide the enabling tools and platforms across the education system, for improving:1.Accessibility; 2.Inclusivity;3.Quality; and 4.Efficiency.

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STATUS OF ICT INFRASTRUCTURE

ICT INFRASTRUCTURE 2002Schools with computers, by province (2002)

Provinces % Schools with computers

% Schools with computers for teaching and learning

Eastern Cape 8.8 4.5Free State 25.6 12.6Gauteng 88.5 45.4KwaZulu Natal 16.6 10.4Mpumalanga 22.9 12.4Northern Cape 76.3 43.3Limpopo 13.3 4.9North West 30.5 22.9Western Cape 82.5 56.8Total 39.2 26.5

As with the current status, in 2002 the status of ICT infrastructure differed from province to province based on provincial priorities, capacity and available funding. Nationally, 26,5% schools had computers for teaching and learning and 39,2% had one or more computers for administrative purposes.

ICT INFRASTRUCTURE 2011

Province

Number of Schools(Report on 2009/2010 Annual Survey)

Number Schools with Computers for admin(NEIMS Report 2011)

% of schools with computers for admin(NEIMS Report 2011)

Number Schools with Computers for Teaching & Learning (T&L)(NEIMS Report 2011)

% of schools with computers for T&L(NEIMS Report 2011)

EC 5745 1427 25% 592 10%FS 1712 1191 70% 295 17%GP 2483 1796 72% 1571 63%KZN 6008 2462 41% 992 17%MP 1927 977 51% 288 15%NC 617 364 59% 297 48%LP 4084 1751 43% 427 10%NW 1678 1349 80% 366 22%WC 1616 1350 84% 1280 79%National 25870 11319 44% 6107 24%

The level of ICT infrastructure provision to districts and schools varies from province to province with the more affluent provinces such as Western Cape and Gauteng almost complete with the roll-out of ICTs to public schools. The table above reflects the status of ICT provision to schools across all provinces in 2011.

ICT INFRASTRUCTURE FOR INCLUSIVE EDUCATION SCHOOLS 2012/13

Dion-Wired in partnership with the DBE has committed itself to support selected IE schools (below) in the country.The Schools have been selected with the assistance of The National Council for Persons with Physical Disabilities ( NCPPDSA) to receive the solution mentioned below and specialised hardware and software

PROVINCENumber of schools for the project

Western Cape 6

KwaZulu Natal 3

Gauteng 5

Mpumalanga 1

Limpopo 1

Total 16

The above participating schools received the following equipments:Interactive Whiteboards, collaborative software called SMART Notebook, the Clicker Software, a projector, laptop, microphone and speakers to use in conjunction with the Smartboard and Netbook software .

ICT INFRASTRUCTURE FOR INCLUSIVE EDUCATION SCHOOLS 2013/14

• The Vodacom Foundation in partnership with DBE will equip the 9 existing ICT Resource Centres with special needs hardware and software using 10 of the 40 computers in each centre.

• This would include a comprehensive library of resources that would enable almost anyone with physical or communication disabilities, through the use of one of these products, to come to the centre and communicate and learn.

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ICT INFRASTRUCTURE FOR INCLUSIVE EDUCATION SCHOOLS 2013/14...

• This specialised equipment includes a range of switches, hands-free mouse solution, specialised keyboards, eye control equipment, low tech books and software (numeracy, literacy and basic computer skills) to compliment the devices and to enable the resources to be fully utilised in the centre.

• The potential gain will be that these disabled people will be given a chance to excel by having access to information on the portal, become computer literate as well as have access to skills and information, which will assist them for the rest of their lives.

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MULTI-GRADE SCHOOLS

MULTIGRADE SCHOOLSThe 2009 Annual Surveys report on ordinary Schools shows that 6665 schools in the country (26%), of which approximately 5000 primary schools, had multi-grade classes. The majority of these schools were located in the Eastern Cape (2333) and KwaZulu-Natal (1331). The table below depict a number of schools per province that had multi-grade classes as per 2009 Annual Survey.

Province

NO. of Schools (Report on 2009/2010 Annual

Survey)

NO. schools with multi-grade classes (Report on 2009/2010

Annual Survey)% of schools with

multi-grade classes

Eastern Cape 5745 2333 41%Free State 1712 722 42%Gauteng 2483 185 7%KwaZulu Natal 6008 1331 22%Mpumalanga 1927 688 36%Northern Cape 617 155 25%Limpopo 4084 631 15%North west 1678 441 26%Western Cape 1616 379 23%National - SA 25870 6665 26%

DBE INITIATIVES DELIVERED IN 2012/13The ICT intervention to multi-grade schools by the DBE includes the provision of 50 multimedia mobile units to 50 multi-grade schools.

PROVINCE Number of schools for the projectEastern Cape 18KwaZulu Natal 6North West 16Limpopo 10Total 50

The above participating schools received the following equipment in a Multimedia mobile unit:•800 Books and educational DVDs•TV unit•DVD Player•3 laptops with 3G connectivity

DBE PLANNED INITIATIVES FOR 2013/14200 multi-grade schools where teachers have already been trained in multi-grade pedagogy offered by the Centre for Multi-Grade Education of the Cape Peninsula University of Technology (CPUT) in 2010 to 2012, are earmarked for 2013/14. The schools are in KwaZulu Natal, Eastern Cape, Free State and Limpopo provinces.

PROVINCE

Total number of Multi-grade schools

% of the project from the total of schools for the project

Number of schools for the project

% of the project from the total No of schools

Eastern Cape 2087 43% 85 4.1%KwaZulu Natal 1331 27% 54 4.1%Free State 813 17% 34 4.2%Limpop 829 14% 27 3.3%Total 5060 100% 200 4.0%

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

ICT PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENTTeacher training and professional development in ICT is currently provided by provincial e-learning sections. However, NGOs such as SchoolNet South Africa (SNSA) through the Microsoft Partners in Learning programme have been instrumental in conducting reputable courses in basic computer skills in South Africa.

Province Total Number of

Teachers

No. of Teachers

Attended Training

% of Teachers

Attended

Training

Eastern Cape 64809 14841 23%

Free State 23854 3351 14%

Gauteng 59175 76871 130%

KwaZulu Natal 90251 7902 9%

Limpopo 55277 1525 3%

Mpumalanga 33059 6984 21%

North West 8632 7207 83%

Northern Cape 24881 1284 5%

Western Cape 32439 12919 40%

National 413067 132884 32%NB: Notes that some teachers may have attended one or more ICT skills training course, hence the high percentage in Gauteng and North West. (Data Source: Provincial ICT Training Data Reports 2012-13)

ICT PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT (cont)• It is imperative that teachers have the ability to integrate ICTs

in teaching and learning.• The percentage of teachers that integrated ICTs in teaching

and learning nationally, is very low.• The percentage of teachers who attend training is still low

especially in the majority of provinces. • Provinces have the responsibility to train teachers in ICT skills

and integration.• The DBE is planning to build the capacity of provinces to train

teachers in ICT skills and integration by providing ICT skills training workshops to relevant provincial and district officials in selected provinces in 2014/15.

• The DBE also plans to update the Framework for Teacher Training & Professional Development in ICT in 2014/15.

CONNECTIVITY IN SCHOOLS

STATUS OF CONNECTIVITY IN DISTRICTS OFFICESThe provision of connectivity to provincial and district offices is the sole responsibility of State Information Technology Agent (SITA). All 9 provincial offices have connectivity, and 77 out of 86 districts are connected to the Internet.

ProvinceNumber of District

offices

District Offices Connected in

2011/12

Northern Cape 5 4

North West 4 4

Limpopo 10 2

KwaZulu-Natal 12 12

Gauteng 15 15

Free State 5 5

Eastern Cape 23 23

Western Cape 8 8

Mpumalanga 4 4

TOTAL 86 77

STATUS OF CONNECTIVITY IN SCHOOLSA total of 14, 260 schools were connected in 2012/13, including 10, 065 schools connected for administrative purpose and 4, 195 connected for teaching and learning purposes through the following connectivity initiatives:•2010 FIFA World Cup Legacy project; •Vodacom Foundation project;•Telkom Foundation project; and •CSIR-Meraka Institute projects.

Province Number of SchoolsPurpose of Connectivity

Administration Teaching & Learning

Eastern Cape 5 588 3136 184

Free State 1 422 581 113

Gauteng 2 015 2 015 1672

KwaZulu-Natal 5 927 110 217

Limpopo 3 965 33

Mpumalanga 1 838 525 107

Northern Cape 597 597 298

North West 1 646 1 646 172

Western Cape 1 455 1 455 1399

Total 24 453 10 065 4 195

LICENSE OBLIGATION PROJECT

  GP NW MP FS LP EC KZN NC Tot

Cell C 86 59 79 20 70 126 69 44 553

MTN 85 59 79 20 70 126 69 44 552

Neotel 85 58 79 20 70 126 69 44 551

Sentech 85 58 79 20 70 125 69 44 550

Vodacom 85 58 79 20 69 125 69 44 548

WBS 85 58 78 19 69 125 68 44 545

  511 350 473 119 418 753 412 263 3299

•5000 schools are scheduled to be connected by all 6 Network operators as per their license obligation. •This will be done in a period of 3 years starting from the current financial year where at least 2000 schools will be connected.•A steering committee including the DOC, DBE, ICASA, USAASA, License operators, and DST, has been established•The DBE has submitted to ICASA and DOC the Hardware and software specifications for ICT resources to be provided to schools which will be connected through the License obligation initiative.

STATUS OF CONNECTIVITY IN DINALEDI SCHOOLSThe 2013 audit on the connectivity status of Dinaledi schools indicates that out of the 492 Dinaledi schools, 269 are connected. 223 Dinaledi schools are not connected including 17 that do have connectivity facilities but currently have no connectivity available. The DBE is currently talking to the DOC in order to include the remaining 223 Dinaledi schools in the 2010 FIFA World Cup Legacy project.

Province No. of Dinaledi schools No. of Dinaledi schools with

Internet access Connected but not

operational

No. of schools without

Internet access

Eastern Cape 60 15 4 45

Free State 33 26 2 7

Gauteng 103 68 5 35

KwaZulu-Natal 88 36 4 52

Limpopo 49 27 0 22

Mpumalanga 46 26 1 20

North West 50 17 1 33

Northern Cape 17 10 0 7

Western Cape 46 44 0 2

Total 492 269 17 223

CONNECTIVITY IN THE PROOF OF CONCEPT DISTRICTSThe Department of Education completed the Feasibility Study on ICT in Education 2009. The Feasibility Study built an e-Education Case through:•Enhancing logistics and operations;•Building managers’ and teachers’ capacity to manage and teach effectively and become ICT capable; and •Providing all learners access to quality education through the appropriate use of ICT. The department requested all provinces to select a district for the implementation of the Proof of Concept (PoC). Province District/Circuit(s) Number of schools

Eastern Cape Lady Frere District;Ezibeleni Circuit, Queenstown District

16228

Free State Motheo District 136Gauteng Tshwane South District 189KwaZulu-Natal Hammersdale & Umhlathuze Circuits,

Pinetown District204

Mpumalanga Witbank 1,2,3 and Middelburg 1,2,3 Circuits, Nkangala Region

151

Northern Cape Siyanda District 101North West Rekopantswe &

Kagisano Molopo Area Offices9590

Western Cape Cape Winelands District 199Limpopo Vhembe District 170Total 1525

PROGRESS MADE IN THE PROOF OF CONCEPT DISTRICTS• The department, in partnership with Vodacom Foundation

prepared an implementation plan to support the nine PoC districts to build an e-Education case.

• In each province an ICT Resource Centre has been established and resourced.

• 270 (30 school in each PoC district) Maths and Science schools around the ICT Resource Center, have been provided with ICT infrastructure and connectivity.

• A hosting site referred to as a ‘digital classroom has been created to support the ICT Centers and the schools in the vicinity of the resource centre. www.digitalclassrooom.co.za

PROGRESS MADE IN THE PROOF OF CONCEPT DISTRICTS...• 1650 schools (125 Dinaledi and 1525 Proof of Concept schools)

and included services such as hosting, internet and emails for 3 years; and

• The implementation of this initiative has commenced in June 2012 for the PoC schools. To date 862 schools including 33 Dinaledi schools are reported to have been completed with regard to the establishment of the WAN component of the connectivity.

• The 1650 will be hosted through the Proof of Concept educational network which is currently being developed by TELKOM. http://www.educloud.org.za

• The connectivity solution for schools include cost-effective WAN solution managed and maintained by the service provider (TELKOM).

CONTENT DEVELOPMENT

DIGITAL CONTENT DEVELOPMENT INITIATIVESContent development initiatives include the following interactive and non-interactive digital curriculum content:

1. The development of Interactive Rainbow Workbooks;

2. Development of ‘hybrid’ Textbooks/Workbooks;3. Distribution of Curriculum Enrichment Videos;

and4. Development of Open Education Resources

(OERs).

ELECTRONIC CONTENT DEVELOPMENT • A draft Digital Content Resources Strategy that aims to provide a balance

between teacher-created content, open education resources and publisher-provided content resources.

• Current content development initiatives include interactive and non-interactive digital curriculum content.

INTERACTIVE RAINBOW WORKBOOKS

• The following interactive Numeracy and Literacy workbooks (Book 1) were developed in 2012/13:

• Grade 1: English First Additional Language Book 1 (Terms 1 & 2).• Grade 2: English First Additional Language Book 1 (Terms 1 & 2).• Grade 3: English First Additional Language Book 1 (Terms 1 & 2).• Grade 3: Mathematics in English Book 1 (Terms 1 & 2).

ELECTRONIC CONTENT DEVELOPMENT... DIGITAL HYBRID TEXTBOOKS/ WORKBOOKS

• GET Natural Science, Technology and Mathematics (Grades 4 -6 in 2012/13 and Grades 7-9 in 2013/14)

• DBE in partnership with Discovery Channel Global Education Partnership (DCGEP) are distributing DVD broadcast content in Limpopo; and Mindset Network has a presence in all provinces via its satellite and Video on Demand (VoD) platform accessed by schools via community TV stations and DSTV subscribers.

• The DBE is currently coordinating an initiative of developing freely accessible educational resources for the education portal.

DIGITAL CONTENT SUMMARY The availability of quality e-content is critical to the

national roll-out of e-Education. •DBE is in the process of developing a dedicated centralised content hosting platform accessible by different ICT devices• Provinces will contribute and shared digital content produced from their different initiatives to the centralized hosting platform• The DBE is also in the process of collating and quality assuring open education resources (OERs) that will be hosted on the centralised hosting platform for access by schools.

IMPLEMENTATION PLAN

THE IMPLEMENTATION PLAN • The Department of Basic Education developed

a draft new e-Education implementation plan that updates the 2004 White Paper including future targets for ICT access in schools.

• The draft implementation plan was found to contain weaknesses in terms of implementation and a task team was set up to address these weaknesses before it can be approved by the Director General.

THE IMPLEMENTATION PLAN... • The document was then discussed with the ICT relevant officials. The following outcomes were achieved from the discussion:

Inputs and context were provided by relevant officials on specific projects;

The development of a dedicated cloud portal for DBE was identified as a quick win (low laying fruits);

A roundtable workshop on DBE’s implementation of FOSS-based e-learning with a specific focus on content was held with specialists and other role-players in the cloud portal service sector for inputs that would inform implementation of this service on 12 June 2013;

Further engagements have taken place with specific role-players in partnerships with DBE; and

The second updated draft of the discussion document for ‘DBE’s Implementation of e-Learning’ is expected to be presented soon for further discussion and inputs.

CHALLENGES OF ICT IN CHALLENGES OF ICT IN EDUCATION EDUCATION

IMPLEMENTATION IMPLEMENTATION

GENERAL CHALLENGES OF ICT IN EDUCATION GENERAL CHALLENGES OF ICT IN EDUCATION IMPLEMENTATION IMPLEMENTATION

General indications from discussions and available provincial plans are that the implementation of ICT in provinces is impeded by:•Lack of a dedicated ICT implementation budget;•Lack of provincial ICT implementation plans in some provinces;•Insufficient alignment of provincial plans and targets to the Action plan to 2014; and•Lack of competent human resources dedicated to ICT implementation at provincial and district levels•Limited connectivity network coverage in rural areas where most schools are located;•High cost of connectivity; and•Reluctance of Network Operators to implement the e-Rate.

IMPLEMENTATION PLANIMPLEMENTATION PLANThe DBE is currently refining its ICT

implementation plan in order to address some of the challenges identified in this report.

RECOMMENDATION RECOMMENDATION

The Portfolio Committee Members to note and discuss

the report on the Implementation of

E-Education

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THANK YOUTHANK YOU