The Gauteng education department will roll out the paperless classrooms initiative to Grade 11s this year.
Though the project, which was rolled out to matrics in July last year, was welcomed by the education sector, it hit a few snags.
Equipment was delivered late at some schools and some were targeted by thieves who stole tablets and smart boards installed in classes.
"The focus in 2016 is to roll out the paperless classrooms project to Grade 11 classes in township schools and to those schools that achieved 100% matric pass," education spokesman Oupa Bodibe said.
"We are still verifying and profiling the learners and determining schools that will benefit from the programme. R17-billion is an estimated cost over five years."
Teacher unions raised concerns about the department's timing to transform classrooms. Teachers were given training but had not been given enough time to adjust and to familiarise themselves with the technology, he said.
"Honestly, I blame the new technology we were introduced to for the drop in our matric results," said a principal at a Soweto school. He said pupils were not able to use the tablets and needed guidance from teachers, and many had been able to go onto websites and social networks when the department had assured that that would not be possible.
"We found pornographic material on these tablets. Some [pupils] did not even return them," he said.
Bodibe insisted that the devices have a software that blocked access to pornographic website. They had tracking devices and the system provides a report on utilisation trends.
But a pupil from Tembisa who failed her exams admitted to Sowetan that they had focused more on enjoying the perks the tablet came with than on studying.
In April, Sowetan reported that four months into the schools' academic year thugs struck more than 280 times at Gauteng schools alone, stealing tablets and smart boards.
"All tablets have a tracking device and the classrooms have been secured to minimise theft of LED smart boards," Bodibe said. "Disciplinary measures can be taken against learners who transgress the school's ICT utilisation policy."
Paperless classrooms expand in Gauteng
The Gauteng education department will roll out the paperless classrooms initiative to Grade 11s this year.
Though the project, which was rolled out to matrics in July last year, was welcomed by the education sector, it hit a few snags.
Equipment was delivered late at some schools and some were targeted by thieves who stole tablets and smart boards installed in classes.
"The focus in 2016 is to roll out the paperless classrooms project to Grade 11 classes in township schools and to those schools that achieved 100% matric pass," education spokesman Oupa Bodibe said.
"We are still verifying and profiling the learners and determining schools that will benefit from the programme. R17-billion is an estimated cost over five years."
Teacher unions raised concerns about the department's timing to transform classrooms. Teachers were given training but had not been given enough time to adjust and to familiarise themselves with the technology, he said.
"Honestly, I blame the new technology we were introduced to for the drop in our matric results," said a principal at a Soweto school. He said pupils were not able to use the tablets and needed guidance from teachers, and many had been able to go onto websites and social networks when the department had assured that that would not be possible.
"We found pornographic material on these tablets. Some [pupils] did not even return them," he said.
Bodibe insisted that the devices have a software that blocked access to pornographic website. They had tracking devices and the system provides a report on utilisation trends.
But a pupil from Tembisa who failed her exams admitted to Sowetan that they had focused more on enjoying the perks the tablet came with than on studying.
In April, Sowetan reported that four months into the schools' academic year thugs struck more than 280 times at Gauteng schools alone, stealing tablets and smart boards.
"All tablets have a tracking device and the classrooms have been secured to minimise theft of LED smart boards," Bodibe said. "Disciplinary measures can be taken against learners who transgress the school's ICT utilisation policy."
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