NATIONAL COUNCIL OF PROVINCES
FOR WRITTEN REPLY
QUESTION 310
DATE OF PUBLICATION OF INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER: 26/08/2010
(INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER: 23-2010)
Mr S H Plaatjie (COPE-NW) to ask the Minister of Basic Education:
(1) Whether each educator has received a computer laptop as promised
in terms of the e-Education initiative; if not, how far is the
implementation in this regard; if so, how many of the 360 000
educators in the system have received computer laptops;
(2) whether all educators are being trained on how to integrate the
Information and Communications Technology (ICT) into their
curriculum; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant
details? CW406E
REPLY
1) As part of the Teacher Laptop Initiative, educators who purchase an
ICT
package in line with the specified requirements will have
access to a
monthly allowance of R130.00. The allowance will
contribute towards
payment for the ICT facility. At this stage none of the
Provincial
Education Departments (PEDs) have implemented the
allowance.
However, the reports received from the PEDs as at the
middle of August
2010 were six of the nine provinces (Free State, KwaZulu-
Natal,
Limpopo, Mpumalanga, North West and Western Cape)
indicated that
they would commence implementation within the 2010/11
financial year.
Potentially, based on the plans and existing funding,
about 143 000
educators will be eligible to apply for and receive the
allowance. It should,
however, be noted that the final figure will depend on the
actual number
of educators who show interest and apply for the
allowance.
.
2) Self-training software and material is included in the minimum
specifications of the package the teacher is required to purchase.
This
includes basic skills training in using the computer
technology in everyday
life and ICT skills for teachers which involves specific
aspects of using
ICT for teaching and learning. These training materials
could also be used
by schools, districts and PEDs for organized
training for groups. PEDs and
teacher unions will organize training sessions as
the uptake of the Laptops
allowances rises.