2007年-世界发展银行全球_Survey_of_ICT_and_Education_in_Africa___South_Africa_Country_Report_29页_380kb

ICT in Education in South Africa: Summary

Core Content

This report provides an overview of the state of Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) in education in South Africa, highlighting both achievements and ongoing challenges. It is part of a larger survey on ICT in education across Africa and is intended as a snapshot of the situation at the time of its publication in 2007.

Main Points

Overview of ICT in Education

• South Africa has over a decade of experience in ICT for education, with various projects and programs developed by stakeholders including communities, the private sector, civil society, and government.
• A significant achievement is the 22% computer penetration in public schools.
• Tertiary institutions have ICT access, research, and teaching programs, but the informal, ABET, and TVET sectors lag behind.
• The country has a policy on e-education for schools and FET colleges, but debate continues on how best to implement it.

Education System

• South Africa has a unified national education system managed by the National Department of Education (NDOE) and nine Provincial Departments of Education (PDOEs).
• The system includes General Education and Training (GET), Further Education and Training (FET), and Higher Education and Training (HET).
• The Council of Education Ministers and the Heads of Education Departments Committee (Hedcom) play key roles in policy coordination and implementation.

Education Statistics

• South Africa has 12.3 million learners, 386,600 teachers, and 26,292 schools.
• Over a million students are enrolled in state-funded tertiary institutions.
• The gross enrollment ratio (GER) in 2004 was 98%, with a gender parity index of 1.01, indicating near equality in educational access.

Spending and Challenges

• Education received the largest share of the national budget in 2007/08, amounting to R105.5 billion (approx. USD$15 billion).
• Major challenges include:
  • High adult illiteracy rates (24%).
  • A shortage of qualified teachers, especially in mathematics and science.
  • Many schools remain under-resourced, overcrowded, and poorly supplied.

ICT Infrastructure

• South Africa has a well-developed telephone system and a vibrant ICT sector, with an annual investment of USD$9.6 billion.
• According to the World Economic Forum, South Africa ranks 37th in the Networked Readiness Index (NRI) out of 115 economies.
• However, infrastructure access is uneven, with only 5% of schools able to afford Internet connections.

ICT Policies

• ICT policies in education have been evolving since 1996, aligned with broader national strategies.
• Key policies include:
  • The e-rate policy, which mandates a 50% discount on Internet services for public schools and FET colleges.
  • The e-Education White Paper, aiming to make every learner in primary and secondary education ICT capable by 2013.
• These policies focus mainly on formal education sectors and do not fully address the informal, ABET, TVET, or community-led initiatives.

Sectoral Strategies

e-rate Policy and Educational Network (EduNet)

• The e-rate policy was introduced to provide discounted Internet access to education institutions.
• EduNet is a proposed national network to connect all public schools and education institutions.
• Implementation of the e-rate has been slow due to legal interpretations and lack of agreement on bandwidth discounts.

e-Education White Paper

• The policy aims to integrate ICT into teaching and learning, promoting not just computer literacy but also the ability to apply, access, and communicate information.
• It defines e-schools as institutions where learners and teachers use ICTs effectively and where the environment supports the use of these technologies.
• The policy is limited to schools and FET colleges, excluding higher education and other sectors.

Current ICT Initiatives and Projects

E-Schools' Network

• A non-profit, self-funded organization providing ICT services to schools and FET colleges.
• Offers connectivity, communication solutions, call center support, and consultancy.
• Provides an email service (SchoolMail) and educational conferences for educators.
• Has been a strong advocate for the e-rate policy.

Gauteng Online

• A provincial initiative by the Gauteng Department of Education to provide computer labs and Internet access to schools.
• Targets 1,200 schools with PC labs, using a model of 25 workstations per lab.
• Collaborates with ICT companies like Accenture, KPMG, and Ernst and Young to design and implement solutions.
• Aims to build human resources capacity, stimulate economic activity, and bridge the digital divide.

Khanya Project

• A provincial program in the Western Cape, launched in 2001, to address educator capacity and curriculum delivery through ICT.
• Aims to empower every educator in the Western Cape by 2012 to use appropriate technology in teaching.
• The project considers the diversity of the school environment and has a multi-project approach.

Key Challenges and Opportunities

• Policy Gaps: A comprehensive ICT policy for all education sectors is still lacking.
• Implementation Delays: Despite policy frameworks, implementation remains slow, particularly in the e-rate and EduNet projects.
• Infrastructure Access: Broadband and Internet access are limited, especially in rural and underdeveloped areas.
• Leadership and Coordination: Strong leadership and coordination across stakeholders are needed to ensure effective ICT integration.
• Future Outlook: With the 2010 World Cup and national economic growth strategies, there is potential for increased ICT investment and access in education. Public-private partnerships are expected to play a key role in this expansion.

Conclusion

South Africa has made significant strides in integrating ICT into education, particularly in the formal sectors. However, the lack of a unified policy, slow implementation, and uneven infrastructure access pose substantial challenges. As the country moves toward becoming an advanced Information Society, the role of ICT in education is expected to grow, especially with the support of national and provincial strategies, and the involvement of private sector partners.