The project entails the installation of interactive boards and the rolling out of tablets for Grade 12 pupils across the province.
375 schools in the province were identified for the project by the Department of Basic Education. The project was officially launched on Tuesday last week during the opening of schools for the second term.
Teachers involved in the project underwent training during the winter school holidays and they have been provided by laptops.
Classes in the identified schools are being revamped to make them compatible with e-learning.
In a statement issued on Thursday morning, the department said the MEC and other senior managers visited schools seven days after the launch to check on the progress made.
“With regard to classrooms that needed refurbishment, only 145 of 1800 targeted need urgent intervention, contractors who had not met their deadlines were replaced,” reads the statement from the department.
It emerged on the MEC’s visit that interactive boards have been installed in most classrooms except for the ones that were still being renovated or still lacking security features.
The statement further reads that, “The MEC was also pleased that teaching and learning was not disrupted in any way. Where the smart-boards had not been installed, educators were able to rely on devices such as the tablets and laptops.”
Onsite support mechanisms for the project have been put in place by the department to deal with any challenges that may arise.
District based ICT teams have been established and ICT trained district officials will be deployed to each of the 375 schools for two weeks from 8am to 4pm to provide onsite support for teachers.
The only area of concern was the break in at Phafogang Secondary School in Rockville and the reported case of one pupil from Vilakazi Secondary School being robbed of his tablet.
The department is in the process of tracking the tablet and case of theft has been opened.
