Gauteng launches R17 billion digital classrooms project<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n
Dignitaries filed into a large marquee at a school in Tembisa, Johannesburg, early on Wednesday morning for the launch of the Smart Schools paperless education project in Gauteng.<\/p>\n
Boitumelong Secondary School was one of seven Gauteng township schools which would undergo “the big switch on”.<\/p>\n
The project would be launched by Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa, Gauteng MEC for education Panyaza Lesufi and Gauteng premier David Makhura.<\/p>\n
Basic Education Minister Angie Motshekga, Telecommunications Minister Siyabonga Cwele and Deputy Trade and Industry Minister Mzwandile Masina were also expected to attend.<\/p>\n
Lesufi addressed media at the school on Tuesday, a day before the official launch of the project.<\/p>\n
“Tomorrow morning in this school, we are officially burying the chalk board, we are officially burying the duster, we are officially burying the chalk,” he said.<\/p>\n
“Gone are the days when they have to write in exercise books and hand in the assignment.”<\/p>\n
The department hopes to roll the project out to all Gauteng township and rural schools by the end of the 2017\/2018 financial year at an estimated cost of R17 billion.<\/p>\n
All high school children will be provided with a tablet computer and Grade seven pupils in primary schools will be trained to use the devices.<\/p>\n
At the launch, a number of people walked around wearing T-shirts bearing the slogan “wired for life”.<\/p>\n
A procession was expected to go to Soshanguve South Secondary School later in the morning to launch the project there too.<\/p>\n
Most expensive schools in South Africa in 2015<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n