VUYO MKIZE
A project intended to create equal access to information and education for Soweto schools through online revision tools has proved to be a non-starter.
The Imfundo Education Technology Programme was launched at Thaba-Jabula Secondary School in Pimville two months ago by the SA Democratic Teachers Union (Sadtu) central region and IT companies Oracle and SP Smart.
Thaba-Jabula was to be the first of four other high schools around Soweto that were supposed to go digital by sharing information tips online through new software. Little or no progress has been made.
The school is still without the main server’s hard drive after a robbery at the school’s computer lab in October last year.
“Our main server was stolen last year and we are still waiting for Gauteng Online to replace that and three flat-screen monitors that were also taken,” said principal Griffiths Vilakazi.
When The Star visited the school yesterday, the computer lab had 21 monitors with blank screens that could not work without the main server – which has been stolen. Exposed wires were hanging where the plasma screen had been put up on the wall in front of the class.
Vilakazi claims to be in the dark about when the programme will begin, despite its having been launched at the school.
“For now, all that has been installed is the satellite dish and the monitor by SP Smart. Further than that, I can’t say much because I don’t have information on it… Without the server, the software cannot be installed,” Vilakazi said.
The programme was supposed to run for three months, but it is unclear when it will start now as it has not been installed in schools.
Sadtu spokesman Ronald Nyathi said the union would hold a meeting tomorrow to discuss the project’s progress.
Gauteng Department of Education spokesman Charles Phahlane said they were investigating the delay in getting the server to the school.
“Our security personnel are looking into burglaries in that area and how these could have taken place at the school.
“However, we are making a commitment that within two weeks, the school will have the server and computers,” he said.