The big switch on is now a reality.
The Gauteng Department of Education (GDE) officially launched the roll-out of the paperless classrooms to Grade 12 pupils on 21 July.
The programme will see pupils and teachers using interactive boards, tablets, and laptops with complete internet connectivity for teaching and learning.
A total of 375 high schools were selected, mainly in townships and rural areas – and 4000 matric classrooms have been refurbished, with ceilings replaced and fitted with specialised lights and blinds – installed to improve lighting for the interactive boards. A total of 17 000 tablets have been purchased throughout the province.
Cameras are also installed in classrooms, and MEC Lesufi said he will be using his phone from wherever he is, to see what’s going on in classrooms.
Meanwhile, DA Shadow MEC for Education Khume Ramulifho said Gauteng’s paperless classrooms are not ready.
“The DA fully supports the introduction of innovative learning and teaching in schools,” said Ramulifho, “However, the DA visited several Gauteng schools to assess the readiness of the wireless implementation and paperless teaching,” he said.
He added that despite the MEC Lesufi’s claims that the system is on track for the new term, numerous schools in Soweto were discovered to have no interactive boards installed.
Ramulifho also revealed that not all Grade 12 teachers have been trained on how to use the new technology.
“This state of affairs will… compromise the remainder of the school year, and in particular, the future of our matriculants,” Ramulifho said.
Reaction on social media
We have children with no maths teachers nor text books but the government is busy launching #paperlessclassroom,#A cry for EC, separate SA
— Mlibo (@Ndamase_Mphumzi) July 21, 2015
The concern I have with the #PaperlessClassroom is the ability of the teachers to teach from tablets.
— Uncle K. (@SimplyKayGee) July 21, 2015
#paperlessclassroom The future generation will never queue for RDP houses and government grants! MEC of Gauteng Education Panyaza Lesufi
— Chris Yako (@cbyako) July 21, 2015
Are schools free from load shedding @Eskom_SA I hope they have generators #PaperlessClassroom
— Njabulo Cele-Zwane (@iNjabulo_) July 21, 2015
One of my biggest challenges for the #paperlessclassroom his year. The Math teachers ☑. @MathletePearce @alicekeeler #tlap ☑
— Ryan Read, Ed.D (@Ryan7Read) July 20, 2015
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