Technology can transform education

Monday, February 22nd, 2010 | education, technology

“Technology can transform education – and we are just at the beginning,” said Premier of the Western Cape, Helen Zille, during the welcoming address of the 6th iNet International Conference in Cape Town this morning.  She reasoned that technology has the potential to put learning resources in the hands of the most disadvantaged child in the remotest corner of the province.

The Premier told the delegates that technology is an equalizer.  While many fear that technology widens the divide between rich and poor, the successful use of cell phones in Africa proves that technology helps to bridge – even leapfrog – the digital divide.  Even in our poorest schools learners carry cell phones.  We must only use our imagination to discover how to harness its power for education.

Zille deplored the poor education outcomes in South Africa.  Considering the huge amounts spent on education and the dismal return on this investment, we are forced to question whether we really have an education system at all or perhaps only a very expensive child-minding system!

The Khanya project was hailed as a success in the Western Cape, but Ms Zille ended her discourse with the sobering thought that, in the final analysis, it is up to you and me to improve education.

Tags: education, technology

4 Comments to Technology can transform education

David Mathe
Monday, 22 February, 2010

I do agree, that “technology can transform education..”. And our lives.

Albie
Tuesday, 23 February, 2010

…up to you and me and all of us !!

The roleplayers in education must become STAKEHOLDERS and give, guide, help, assist; also be involved @ schools leading, directing, showing, encouraging to be on the RIGHT path where technology can transform the learner within an educational system with ICT opportunities @ hand and eventually improve educational and thus the economy, environment, socio-economic conditions and eventually – yourself.

Albie Youmeus

Liz Reid
Tuesday, 23 February, 2010

The Premier said that she wanted young people to be agents of their own future not victims of the past,so that at the end of their formal schooling they could say “now it is up to me”.This is a lesson for public education systems round the world and not just for students.It is up to educators too,to network and learn from each other,to innovate to solve problems and do things differently to do them better. All of us need to be able to say “now it is up to me”.i feel that very strongly.

Clinton Walker
Tuesday, 23 February, 2010

Confidence before competence. Often we may approach a challenge with little or no real competencies to master it. What we should have is the self-belief that “this too shall be conquered (pass)”. What the Khanya Project should instil within the educators it seeks to empower is this CONFIDENCE that the new tools will be overcome.

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