Panyaza Lesufi

[Vrotappel]

More on this 'success' (aka thechamp).

Paperless classrooms hit a snag

Plans to issue tablets to the grade 11 class of 2016 as part of the Gauteng Department of Education's (GDE's) paperless classroom project have been put on ice as the department decides what steps to take going forward.

GDE MEC Panyaza Lesufi says: "First, the department had to address residual challenges from the grade 12 project, including theft of smart boards and tablets not returned by learners or returned in a bad shape. Second, financial constraints have also delayed the rollout to grade 11."

Half a year later and they are still looking for missing tablets and boards. LOL what a success.

 

[RASIMIONE]

What exactly is wrong with trying to use tablets in the classroom? That those tablets have been stolen is a different matter. It might not have worked as intended but he's atleast trying to use new age methods in education. Why are some trying to belittle his effort? The only reason he's attacked in this forum is because of his efforts to get equal access for all students in former Schools that used language to exclude black students . Some people don't want this. Lesufi like a lot of leaders has done many wrongs but he really is trying. It could be why he's getting love from the media.

 

[FoXtroT]

What exactly is wrong with trying to use tablets in the classroom? That those tablets are stolen is a different matter. It might not have worked as intended but he's atleast trying to use new age methods in education. Why are some trying to belittle his effort? The only reason he's attacked in this forum is because he wants equal access for all students. Some people don't want this. Lesufi like a lot of leaders has done many wrongs but he really is trying. It could be why he's getting love from the media.

Anyone with half a brain can see the problems associated with tablet use at school.

 

[MagicDude4Eva]

What exactly is wrong with trying to use tablets in the classroom? That those tablets have been stolen is a different matter. It might not have worked as intended but he's atleast trying to use new age methods in education. Why are some trying to belittle his effort? The only reason he's attacked in this forum is because of his efforts to get equal access for all students in former Schools that used language to exclude black students . Some people don't want this. Lesufi like a lot of leaders has done many wrongs but he really is trying. It could be why he's getting love from the media.

It covered only grade 11 and 12. The tablets are "chinaware" and really garbage in build quality and not sturdy. Since the tablets are "lend" to scholars (i.e. there was no ownership or compensation if the tablet was lost/broken etc) the churn through tablets was huge.

The e-learning material was of poor quality. Teachers spent more time supporting e-learning devices/kids than actually teaching.

The biggest reason why e-learning in SA is failing is however that the DoE did not holistically look at e-learning and merely rolled out electronics. Even the basics (such as sufficient charging stations) where not provided and theft and breakage was high. From what I have heard, a tablet would not remain re-usable for another term.

In a 3rd world country like SA where the DoE can not even deliver text-book on time we should not try anything electronic and rather go back to basics.

 

[grok]

Anyone with half a brain can see the problems associated with tablet use at school.

Especially if managed by the same party that couldn't even manage traditional distribution of school books by truck..

 

[ToxicBunny]

It covered only grade 11 and 12. The tablets are "chinaware" and really garbage in build quality and not sturdy. Since the tablets are "lend" to scholars (i.e. there was no ownership or compensation if the tablet was lost/broken etc) the churn through tablets was huge.

The e-learning material was of poor quality. Teachers spent more time supporting e-learning devices/kids than actually teaching.

The biggest reason why e-learning in SA is failing is however that the DoE did not holistically look at e-learning and merely rolled out electronics. Even the basics (such as sufficient charging stations) where not provided and theft and breakage was high. From what I have heard, a tablet would not remain re-usable for another term.

In a 3rd world country like SA where the DoE can not even deliver text-book on time we should not try anything electronic and rather go back to basics.

Precisely this.

We need to get the basics right, when they are pretty much second nature to everyone then we can start getting inventive with things like technology etc.

 

[MagicDude4Eva]

Precisely this.

We need to get the basics right, when they are pretty much second nature to everyone then we can start getting inventive with things like technology etc.

Lesufi should spend some time with the principal of Sun Valley School and then take a road trip to Finland to learn and understand where how to achieve a good educational system. I am still puzzled that teachers receive really mediocre pay (granted, 90% of the teachers I have interacted with are poor educators and don't deserve a good salary) where they should be typically rewarded for producing visionaries, CEOs, doctors and otherwise progressive and clever people.

BTW: As much as I dislike Michael Moore, it is worth to watch "Where to Invade Next" - it gives an interesting insight into the educational system across France, Slovenia and Finland. In all fairness to our poor educational system and the african way we do things, I would have expected that "1st world countries" such as US would be able to do better (compared to Finland for example).

 

[Lord Farquart]

What exactly is wrong with trying to use tablets in the classroom? That those tablets have been stolen is a different matter. It might not have worked as intended but he's atleast trying to use new age methods in education. Why are some trying to belittle his effort? The only reason he's attacked in this forum is because of his efforts to get equal access for all students in former Schools that used language to exclude black students . Some people don't want this. Lesufi like a lot of leaders has done many wrongs but he really is trying. It could be why he's getting love from the media.

Nothing, my kids use/used them. Great success story, but then I paid for the tablets. I also pay to have them in a private school with all the resources and experts required.

Here he is rolling out hi-tech stuff where basic education does not quite exist. You see the problem? Get the v=basics right before you go hi-tech. Get toilets, classrooms with doors and windows, running water, books etc. Get this for everyone, then go spend money on hi-tech stuff where it is practical and the skills level of educators, support staff and learners are high enough.

As for language to exclude blacks, sit back and think about it. Taking away an Afrikaans schooll's medium of teaching in favour of another language is wrong. That school exists because that is the predominant language in that area. They are not excluding blacks. The student can go to any school and be taught in the language that teaching is provided at that school. Taking away from one to give to another might sound like a win for you, but in the end it is a lose for all. All parents want their kids to be taught at the best school they can afford or have access to. Unfortunately there are sacrifices that need to be made in doing this. The problem here is that Lesoufle want that sacrifice to be education. Afrikaans schools are becoming scarce, dual medium seems to be the way things are going, but in a predominantly white area, that will be Afrikaans and English.

Lastly, he is not getting love from the media, he is getting attention. Big difference. He is getting it because of his peacocking at hotspots. And that is the reason for my question. If you go google his name, his grandstanding is what you get. You want more, then you have to go to his FB page. But that is not making news because, as with his peacocking, it seems like most, if not all, is quit a flop.

 

[MagicDude4Eva]

I am not sure why people complain about language choices. The current school-system very well allows pupils to swop Afrikaans and the 3rd language for any other language choices. I never saw much purpose having my kid learn a local language and despite the additional cost rather have him learn a more usable global language (bouncing back and forth between German and French).

The kid went to two prominent (read=expensive) Joburg private schools and both schools had mediocre educators in Afrikaans/Zulu (you know something is wrong when my domestic worker corrected the work of the Zulu-teacher).

Lesufi is just hot air and a good politician (very similar to DHA Gigaba) - i.e. is there when public focus requires it, but can never really be fully blamed/made accountable for the respective department not working well.