Schools Connectivity Presentation to the Portfolio

Committee on Telecommunications and Postal

Services

12 September 2014

Making South Africa a Global Leader in Harnessing ICTs for Socio-economic Development

1

Making South Africa a Global Leader in Harnessing ICTs for Socio-economic Development

Outline

• The DTPS role in schools connectivity

• The role of the department in the broadband rollout

• E-Education and related policies

• Support

• Budget, monitoring and evaluation of schools connectivity

• Project challenges

• Lessons learnt

2

Making South Africa a Global Leader in Harnessing ICTs for Socio-economic Development

The DTPS role in schools connectivity• The role of the DTPS is to ensure that there

is a rollout of ICT infrastructure to all government institutions including schools.

• The broadband policy (SA Connect) approved in December 2013, paved the way for the broadband implementation in the country.

• Based upon this, the DTPS is mandated to ensure uptake and usage of broadband services in the country, e-government, e-education & e-health etc.

• The Department is responsible for the coordination & facilitation relating to the implementation of all e-education initiatives in-conjunction with other related education stakeholders.

3

The coordination role of the Department

Network InfrastructureDeployment

Services Provisioning

End-user devices supply

Applicationsdevelopment

Content development

Training provisioning

National line Departments

Provinces

Municipalities

USAASA

SOCs

Private sector

There is significant overlap of roles in the current value chain 4

Making South Africa a Global Leader in Harnessing ICTs for Socio-economic Development

Schools connectivity policies and engagement • 2004 White Paper on e-Education

• informs the schools connectivity concept.• E-Rate

• provides for a 50% discount for connectivity to all schools.• Universal Service Obligations (USOs)

• makes provision for the connectivity of schools by licensees.• SA Connect policy

• provision of broadband connectivity to schools.• E-Connectivity Plan

• Outcome of the e-Connectivity Forum which comprises of Deputy Ministers (DTPS, DBE, DPSA, DST, DoH, EDD)• The DTPS is part of the steering committee on schools connectivity comprising of

the DBE, DPSA, DST, DoH, EDD.• Defined the schools connectivity model, which outline the minimum specifications for the

provision of ICT infrastructure to public schools.• DBE is part of the SA Connect task teams, to provide input on the broadband implementation

plan• The DTPS is also a member of the DBE ICT Interprovincial Working Group 5

School Connectivity Model

• Wide Area Network (WAN) Connectivity

• Local Area Network (LAN) connectivity

• Wireless Access Points for schools

• End User Devices (EUD)

Mobile Classroom Trolley per

school

Minimum of 26 Laptops per school

with operating system software

1 Workgroup Server per school

1 Projector per school

1 Workgroup Laser Printer per

school

Making South Africa a Global Leaderin Harnessing ICTs for Socio-economic Development

6

Making South Africa a Global Leader in Harnessing ICTs for Socio-economic Development

Support & Budget Monitoring• Technical Support

2010 FIFA World Cup Legacy project A toll-free number has been set up to

provide technical support for all the schools.

Equipment warranty• Universal Service Obligations

Licensees will provide initial technical support for 3 months after rollout, thereafter USAASA will take over this responsibility.

• Training Intel provides ICT e-learning training to

schools - 2305 teachers have been trained. • Monitoring of budget allocation

Overall monitoring of budget allocation to SOCs, of which schools connectivity form part of their plan.

7

Making South Africa a Global Leader in Harnessing ICTs for Socio-economic Development

Monitoring & Evaluation

• DBE has commenced the audit of the 2010 Legacy FIFA World Cup

project.

• DTPS is also conducting a desk top audit of the project rollout to verify

the reports received from Telkom.

• ICASA will monitor & evaluate the USO rollout, with the DTPS providing

the role of coordination.

• The impact assessment will be done in-conjunction with DBE

• This will, however, be conducted 1 year after project installation, to

allow the schools to commence the use of technology. 8

Making South Africa a Global Leader in Harnessing ICTs for Socio-economic Development

Project Challenges The 2010 FIFA World Cup Legacy project was a POC, therefore the following highlights some

of the factors that affected the rollout:

Inaccurate data (location and contact details not accurate, schools close down or move to

another location after installation process)

Inadequate physical infrastructure (lack of power, mud schools)

Poor communication with key stakeholders (technicians turned away as schools were not

informed of rollout)

Security - theft of equipment, lack of accountability for assets received

Equipment locked away and not used – too expensive to allow learners to use devices.

Appointments made for installations, however schools don’t honour appointments made.

Resulting in technicians revisiting schools 2-3 times in a week.

Schools switch off equipment to minimise power consumption, resulting in a reduced life span

of hardware and false alarms to the network monitoring centre. 9

Making South Africa a Global Leader in Harnessing ICTs for Socio-economic Development

Lessons Learnt & Way Forward

• Schools connectivity should be a holistic solution, centrally coordinated,

addressing connectivity, end-user devises, applications, content and training

• The approach to connectivity should have a long-term sustainability plan

• Coordination of all schools connectivity initiatives by DTPS and DBE is

important to avoid duplication.

• There is a need for alignment of projects with the DTPS regarding the provision

of ICTs to schools.

Network InfrastructureDeployment

Services Provisioning

End-user devices supply

Applicationsdevelopment

Content development

Training provisioning

10

Making South Africa a Global Leader in Harnessing ICTs for Socio-economic Development

The End

11