Perhap some of the people here can do a random contact of schools in their area, as I mentioned it appears that only public schools get this discount. I can try and get info from schools in the Eastern Cape. Anyone up for Cape Town, JHB, Durban and so on
I thought I would keep it short and to the point - one thing I am not 100% sure of, I don't know if anyone else knows, but as I recall it was 50% discount on Internet subs and call charges - It has now been six months since this should have been implemented, and nearly a year since it was announced.
I would have thought that before the announcement was made the parties concerned were consulted, and they had all their meetings and memos, draft proposals, 11th hour repentances.... and then there was then over six months to make sure that everything would be in place for it's implementation.
School is over in a few months, taken in context that the SNO is nearly two and a half years over due one can only wonder - I trust that these schools will be getting a credit (albeit with out interest paid, which is what Telkom charge you if you are just one day late)
I want to send out two letters, one for DOE & DOC - another to the Schools - Perhaps even a letter to Hans Van De Groenendaal of Telkom... unless someone would like to give him a call
Here is what I have so far:
We are busy researching how many schools are benefiting from the 50% discount on call charges and Internet connection fees that was announced by Dr Ivy Matsepe-Casaburri the Minister communications in September 2004 and due to come into effect at the beginning of January 2005
Could you please be so kind to inform us what progress has been made in regard to this matter
We refer to this article by PAUL VECCHIATTO, ITWEB CAPE TOWN CORRESPONDENT ' Schools not getting their half-price Internet '
ITWeb, 3 March 2005 - Schools are not receiving the 50% Internet connectivity discount they are entitled to because the Department of Education (DOE) is still compiling a register of its needs, a spokesman says
Department of Education spokesman Tommy Makhode says: “While it is a priority for us, we are still compiling a register of needs that includes cheaper Internet connectivity for schools
In September last year, communications minister Ivy Matsepe-Casaburri announced that schools were entitled to a 50% reduction in their Internet fees. This was gazetted a month later as part of the overall telecommunications liberalisation announcement. This discount came into effect on 1 January
However, two months later, very few of the country's estimated 24 000 schools have seen the benefit of this discount and they are not likely to soon as the DOE has not made any plans to allow schools to fast track the procedure to register with Telkom.
“No, there are no formal plans to allow schools to register directly with Telkom,” Makhode says.
Telkom spokesman Hans Van De Groenendaal says some schools are receiving the discount, but he could not say how many.
“Our main problem is that we need to reconcile the school telephone numbers are legitimate, because some school phone numbers are not in their names, rather they are in the names of their principals or companies that sponsor them,” he says
