The Big Switch On brings tablets to seven schools

THE chalkboard, chalk and duster will now be a thing of the past in some Ekurhuleni classrooms as seven schools in the region replaced chalkboards with interactive digital boards.

Teaching and learning in the seven schools kicked off on a hi-tech mode as schools re-opened for the 2015 school calendar year on Wednesday.

One of the schools, Boitumelong Secondary School in Tembisa, hosted the launch of this ground breaking innovation. The launch was overseen by deputy president Cyril Ramaphosa, Gauteng premier David Makhura, Gauteng Education MEC Panyaza Lesufi and Ekurhuleni mayor, Clr Mondli Gungubele, among others.

Welcoming the technological revolution, Gungubele said: “As the City of Ekurhuleni we believe that the education centre must be a reference of excellence in the society and every best thing must happen in our schools. As we move together in connecting wi-fi and putting together a digital city, we understand the centrality of clarity that is brought forth by this ground-breaking initiative.”

Addressing members of the media at Boitumelong Secondary School in Tembisa Lesufi said: “Gone are the days when pupils had to write in exercise books and hand in assignments.He added that pupils would take the tablets home for learning purposes.

When asked if pupils would not be tempted to use the tablets to watch movies and other social media platforms, Lesufi said it was impossible for the tablet to be used for anything other than learning.

“The tablets are loaded with learning material only. There is no way pupils can use them for other things,” he said.

Security has also been increased at the schools where the tablets and other digital resources programme was launched.

“Here at Boitumelong Secondary School, we had two attempted break-ins in December last year. We are ready for whoever thinks he can come and steal the computers at the school. We will fight fire with fire when it comes to protecting what we have for the pupils,” he said.

On the question of pupils looking after the tablets at home, he said he met with all the parents at the school before the project was even started.

“I met with about 1 700 parents, one on one, and they all signed a pledge to make sure their children look after the tablets. There is nothing to fear. My priority is the education of the pupils, nothing else,” he said.

Seven schools had been identified to launch the paperless education system.The launch of this project, “The Big Switch On”, will see classrooms turned into “classrooms of the future”, enabling learners to have access to learning material, workbooks and other subject matter through the use of information communications technology (ICT).

The seven schools involved in the project are Boitumelong Secondary School in Tembisa, Phomolong Secondary in Tembisa, Thandi Eleanor Sibeko Secondary in Duduza, Tlamatlama Primary School in Tembisa, Sunward Park in Boksburg, Ponelopele Oracle Secondary in Ivory Park and Tshepisa Primary School in Tembisa.

These schools will experience for the first time state of the art technology to support effective teaching and learning in the classroom.

The Big Switch On Pilot Project is the first step in realising Gauteng’s vision which aspires to build a world-class education system by modernising public education and improve the standard of performance of the entire system.