NATIONAL COUNCIL OF PROVINCES
QUESTION 281
FOR WRITTEN REPLY
DATE OF PUBLICATION OF INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER: 05/08/2011
Mr S H Plaatjie (COPE â NW) to ask the Minister of Basic Education
Whether her department is (a) preparing educators to master technology to
offer high school courses online, (b) arranging with Internet Service
Providers to offer virtual schools with appropriate bandwith to operate
successfully and (c) providing any grants to online high schools to come
into operation in order to keep up with developments worldwide; if not,
when will her department take steps to allow the above-mentioned to be
achieved; if so, what are the relevant details in each case ? CW345E
Reply:
a) The Department of Basic Education in collaboration with provincial
education departments and private sector partners has trained 123 192
teachers (since 2008) in the use of ICTâs for teaching and learning
purposes. This is to ensure that teachers can access online
resources as provided by the Departmental Thutong education portal and
other sources.
b) Government is working to ensure greater access to affordable broadband
connectivity across society, including schools, through the national
Broadband Policy No. 617, Gazette Notice No 33377 of 13 July 2010 in
terms of the Electronic Communications Act 36 of 2005.
c) The Department is involved in providing various online support for
learners and teachers including curriculum support and preparation for
examinations. However, the Department has not received any company
proposals for the establishment of or requests to support virtual or
online high schools.