E-EDUCATION IMPLEMENTATION PLANFOR THE

BASIC EDUCATION SECTOR

2014 – 2019

PROBLEM STATEMENT

• Goal of the White Paper on e-Education (2004) is yet to be achieved.

“Every South African learner in GET & FET

will be ICT capable by 2013”

• Basic Education sector is unable to leverage on the potential of ICTs to improve the quality, accessibility, equity and learner attainment.

BACKGROUND

• Limited ICT infrastructure available in schools nationally by 2010: 6 245 schools (25%) had computers for teaching and

learning,13 011 (51%) had ICT for administrative purposes.

• ICT infrastructure disparities among and within provinces.

• Major PDE constraints include:Inadequate or lack of budget.Shortage of necessary resources (human & physical).Inadequate state of e-readiness at schools (human &

physical). Competing priorities.

E-EDUCATION INITIATIVES AUDIT 2013

• Audit of ICT initiatives in all provinces was conducted in 2013

• Audit findings on e-Education implementation:Implementation visible but slow pacedPrivate sector & NGOs played significant role but

ICT initiatives uncoordinated, unsustainable, scattered & unfocused hence limited impact

Initiatives not comprehensive(No training/content)Lack or inadequate human capacityLack or inadequate connectivity

E-EDUCATION IMPLEMENTATION PLAN 2014 - 2019

• Plan aims to increase access to ICT to support curriculum delivery & improve learner attainment.

• Plan updates & adds detail to the White Paper on e-Education (2004) as well as sets new targets for ICT access in schools

• Plan is mainly grounded on 4 strategic objectives:1. Electronic content resource development and

distribution2. ICT professional development for management,

teaching and learning3. Access to ICT infrastructure 4. Connectivity

KEY FACTORS TO CONSIDER • New Government policies, plans (NDP) & priorities; • Lessons learnt (Khanya & GoL);• Available technologies & suitability;• Phased implementation approached; • Standards for Internet access for schools;• Use of FOSS & OERs;• Delineated roles & responsibilities of stakeholders; • Advisory oversight committee;• Access to quality educational material; • Dissemination of school-based best practice; • Monitoring & evaluation of the new e-Education

initiative.

STRUCTURE OF PLAN• The plan consists of two parts:

Part 1: Implementation Approach• Section 1: Introduction• Section 2: Implementation Approach• Section 3: Deliverables and Activities to be led by the

DBE• Section 4: Deliverables and Activities to be led by

PEDs• Section 5: Deliverables to be led by the DTPS• Section 6: Enabling the implementation of the e-

educationPart 2: Individual Provincial Implementation Plans

• Section 7: Individual Provincial Implementation Plans

IMPLEMENTATION APPROACH

• National targets will guide the implementation.

• Benchmarks and annual targets will be set for each strategic objective>No. of schools with ICT facilities (Admin &

Teaching & Learning ) No. of schools with access to connectivity

(Admin & Teaching & Learning ) No. of schools with access to offline & online

electronic content resources.No. of teachers at various ICT skills proficiency

levels (basic, intermediate & advanced).

ROLES & RESPONSIBILITIES

1. Department of Basic Education (DBE) will lead: Electronic content resource development and

distribution

2. Provincial Education Departments (PDEs) will lead :ICT professional development for management,

teaching and learningAccess to ICT infrastructure

3. Department of Telecommunications and Postal Services will lead:Connectivity

IMPLEMENTATION PERIOD

• Plan outlines a framework for specific priorities and actions to be implemented over a period of 5 years. Year 1- 2014/15 Year 2- 2015/16 Year 3- 2016/17 Year 4- 2017/18 Year 5- 2018/19

Activity 4: Rollout the Educational Network

• This activity will lead to the utilization of the connectivity provided to schools facilitating the access to the e-administrative Virtual Private Network (VPN), e-learning Virtual Private Network; and use of electronic means to communicate with Provincial offices.

Breakdown and numeric targets for schools connectivity for the next 5 years in line with National Broadband Policy

The Educational Network is currently under construction (dbecloud)

PRE-REQUISITES FOR SUCCESS

• Adequate funding for e-Education implementation nationally• Management structures to give effect to this Plan:

Advisory Oversight Committee (HEDCOM ICT Sub-committee)

ICT Inter-provincial forum

• Partnerships for e-Education implementationDepartment of Telecommunications & Postal Services

(DTPS)Department of Science & Technology (DST)Department of Higher Education & Training (DHET)Private sector & NGOs

• Coordination of a national system for e-Education implementation.

Website: www.education.gov.zaCall Centre: 0800 202 933 | callcentre@dbe.gov.za

Twitter: @DBE_SA | Facebook: DBE SA

Thank you