Central SA
Northern Cape premier ready to launch E-learning initiative─── BAMBATHA GIKO 14:30 Thu, 23 Feb 2023
Grade 12 learners across the Northern Cape Province will receive tablets, following the launch of an E-learning programme.
The launch is expected to happen on Monday 27 February 2023 at the Vuyolwethu High School in Kimberley.
The spokesperson of the Premier's Office, Bronwyn Thomas-Abrahams, says the tablets that will be given to the learners will have the Edukite learning programme loaded. The Edukite application includes six subjects of the curriculum.
“Learners will now be able to better understand abstract content knowledge through 3D animations, where lessons come alive. Through interactive simulations, learners can now apply and investigate what they have learnt. It will further assist learners to prepare for their examinations, by tracking their progress and performance,” says Thomas-Abrahams.
The MEC of Education, Zolile Monakali, said the initiative is a project by the Department of Education, together with the Premier's Office and Treasury. It is in line with the vision of creating a modern, growing, and successful province.
“What we are doing, we are procuring the tablet, as the Department of Education. We also got some assistance from Stats SA. They sponsored about 3000 tablets,” said Monakali.
The project will be rolled out to high-enrollment schools, underperforming schools, as well as schools in rural areas. Monakali said these schools are prioritised as they often have disadvantaged learners who cannot afford their own tablets or have access to Information and Communication Technology (ICT) learning.
The Edukite application won’t be available on app stores for other devices as the license for the application only allows for it to be used on the tablets the department plans to hand out to all grade 12 learners.
Monakali added the department plans to roll out the e-learning application to grades 10 and 11 in the near future. He said the Covid-19 pandemic has shown the importance of ICT, that it is the future of education as it allows learners to have access to learning and teaching without having to attend class.
Following the launch in Kimberley, the initiative will be rolled out to the Namakwa district from the week of 27 February, and will then be rolled out to the rest of the province.
“We would just like to encourage the parents in the Northern Cape to make sure that when the learners get these devices, they must make sure they look after these and ensure they are used for the right purpose,” Monakali added.
