Celebration of Technology in Education

On Thursday 7th April, Premier Ebrahim Rasool and Rugby World Cup hero Francois Pienaar, will celebrate the Western Cape Education Department's achievements in the delivery of one of the Premier's Easter Campaign targets, when at least 320 schools will have been provided with a computer lab.

The WCED's Khanya Technology in Education Project will host a Public-Private-Partnership seminar tomorrow, from 09h30 at the Artscape Theatre in Cape Town, to reflect on its achievements and challenges, and call for investment from the private sector.

So far 322 schools have been trained in the effective use of technology; of these 153 are secondary schools. Another 180 primary and high schools are in various stages of preparation for the next wave of implementation.

About half-a-million learners are already reaping the benefits of the project. To date, a total of 10,000 computers are used in Khanya schools, with 10,000 educators who have been empowered to use technology optimally for curriculum delivery.

Just last month one Khanya school, the Atlantis Secondary School from the Western Cape, was placed first in the category Technology Enhanced Learning and Teaching at the Most Improved Schools Awards 2004, which was held at the Presidential Guest House in Pretoria.

Khanya, an initiative of the WCED, was launched in April 2001 to promote the use of technology to enhance learning, teaching and life opportunities. It has set for itself the target to empower every educator by 2012 to use appropriate technology to deliver the curriculum to each and every learner in the province. And all indications are that the target will be reached.

Starting with the poorest of the poor schools, this award-winning project works towards eradicating the digital divide and striving towards gender equity. Khanya reaches the most remote rural areas and includes learners with special educational needs, those who are at centres for rehabilitation, farm labourers and factory workers.

Khanya enjoys recognition locally and internationally. It was the only African finalist in the education category of the international IT awards programme known as the Stockholm Challenge for 2003/04. The Project received a glass sculpture from the City of Stockholm in recognition of its "contribution in the global movement of building a better Information Society for all".

Last year it has also won the Standard Bank Public Sector Innovation Award in the category Innovative Service Delivery Institutions. The award is designed to recognize innovation and sustainability in the private and public sectors.

MEC for Education Cameron Dugmore said he was proud of the achievements of Khanya and the department. "With education through technology comes greater access to information, the development of IT skills, more effective administration of schools, a higher level of accountability and increased confidence for entire communities.

"For this reason we are committed to ensure that by the end of this year, all high schools should have access to computers and technology.

"I am therefor very thankful for the contribution of Multi-Choice, which have committed themselves to equip every disadvantaged school with a television set, VCR and satellite dish, which would give learners access to various educational programmes."

For Comment, Contact Kobus Van Wyk 083 374 4853

For enquiries, contact Gert Witbooi: 082 550 3938, or gwitbooi@pgwc.gov.za.

Gert Witbooi
Media Secretary
Office of the MEC for Education
Western Cape
Tel: 021 467 2523
Fax: 021 425 5689
Visit our website: http://wced.wcape.gov.za

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