How does the WCED plan to use Information and Communication Technology in schools?

The WCED plans to use ICT in schools to

• deliver and support curriculum
• help in raising the levels of teaching and learning in disadvantaged schools
• educate and support educators
• eliminate the digital divide
• empower learners to join the global knowledge community
• encourage learners to prepare themselves for careers in the sciences, engineering and ICT
• collect and distribute administrative information
• ensure that all schools in the province, rural as well as urban, have immediate access to curriculum and administrative information

In the age of the Internet, ICT has become the universally preferred set of tools for storing and exchanging knowledge and information. Despite the more traditional environment of schools, it can play an invaluable part here too in fulfilling these two functions.

The administration systems in WCED schools are all being connected to head office and the EMDCs so that information can flow speedily and efficiently between them.

In classrooms too, this ideal is gradually being reached through the successive roll-outs of the Khanya project. Already, learners in more than a third of our schools have access to computer networks connected to the Internet through the fundraising efforts of their own schools and Khanya. These learners have the opportunity to extend their learning through computer-aided instruction, resource-based learning, taking part in international projects, communicating with others throughout the world and creating exciting multimedia presentations. By 2012 all schools will be using technology to support and deliver curriculum, and all learners will enjoy this enhanced learning environment.

Emphasis at first is on raising the levels of mathematics, science and literacy across the curriculum, but as the community becomes ever more computer literate and the WCED develops its curriculum delivery mechanisms, benefits will be seen across all areas of the GET and FET Bands.

Khanya:
Mr Kobus van Wyk
Tel: 021 467 2224
Fax: 021 467 2223

Visit the Khanya website.