Schools not getting their half-price Internet

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Schools not getting their half-price Internet

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.
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"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."

Amazing! It must be costing schools millions across the country while the DoE is dragging their feet!
 
This is sooo typical, considering that it is a legal requirement for schools to get their 50% discount on Internet Connectivity, it is basically illegal for ISPs failing to comply with the law. So who needs to be sued, the ISPs or DoE...?
 
Is this only going to apply to schools who use Telkom, or is it for any internet connectivity? I know my school is on the Sentech VSTAR package.

Chow, Nick
 
My school is using Sentechs VSTAR service for download and isdn for upload - that is about 400kbps between 700-800 people; the IT department (i happen to know - I think they use it to download the Windows updates) has a private adsl line which they claim they don't know how spread over the school with the cap - I am forwarding the uncapped options links but am yet to hear...

Really, I am sitting here and my two downlaods 01/0.2 kbps it is crazy! they could be going so much faster if the IT people could add 500kbps to the donwload speed - twice as fast!

Well with 55 / 765 hours remaining i sit and wait . . .
 
Hmm;

Is there some software out there (I imagine this is some kind of a router) that; based on the destination of your net request can route the packets to proxyCOMPUTEr1 or proxyComputer2.

ProxyPC1 maybe connected to iBust and computer ProxyPC2 may be connected to adsl ?
 
So basically the example reflected in the article means that the school would ordinarily spend R36 000 for internet connectivity! And this is a relatively "poor" school with a few computers? Surely this should be a concern far greater than any pathetic attempt by Telkom to justify their existence through seeming "generous" concessions?
 
qDot said:
Hmm;

Is there some software out there (I imagine this is some kind of a router) that; based on the destination of your net request can route the packets to proxyCOMPUTEr1 or proxyComputer2.

ProxyPC1 maybe connected to iBust and computer ProxyPC2 may be connected to adsl ?
Click to expand...

Yes, lots of nice things can be done with the correct router, or even just a plain old Linux box acting as a router! The best seems to be this product which is around $40 for the software, and you can just install it on any old cheap PC.

http://www.mikrotik.com/2index.html

You can also purchase pre-built router boxes from a number of local companies for less than R2500 with this installed.

You need to know a bit about networks and routing to use it effectively, or have a consultant that can help.
 
ADSL for schools. No good.

ADSL is an excellent product for schools, but with capping and the fact you have to buy extra accounts, it wouldn't be enough for a school of 500 or 700 pupils.
I wonder when Telkom offered the 50% discount; they took the time out to think about it.
You might find the office staff using the ADSL connection and the students in the classes having to use a Wireless Option like Sentech perhaps.

Perhaps this is one of the reasons the department is still chewing on it, other than the normal bureaucratic red tape of course.
 
Please correct me here...

AFAIK Telkomonopoly had nothing to do with the 50% reduction for schools - it was imposed on Telkomonopoly and all other ISPs by Government Gazette Notice decree, IOW it is the law & not Telkomonopoly reaching out a helping hand.
 
Schools shouldn't have to pay internet fees. Internet has become an important part of education.
 
ic said:
AFAIK Telkomonopoly had nothing to do with the 50% reduction for schools - it was imposed on Telkomonopoly and all other ISPs by Government Gazette Notice decree, IOW it is the law & not Telkomonopoly reaching out a helping hand.
Click to expand...

You are probably right. I read on Telkom's website about them offering 50%, but it was likely just a marketing thing.
 
BTTB said:
You are probably right. I read on Telkom's website about them offering 50%, but it was likely just a marketing thing.
Click to expand...
:eek: them crafty $izwe clones @ Telkomonopoly propaganda HQ - I think we should make this the substance of a complaint to ASA...anyone game?
 
I speak under correction but I think I read someplace about an uproar in the USA over a cut in the funding internet access in public schools.

The point here is that the government over there is footing the bill for internet access in public schools. I dont know how feasible that idea would be for implementation down here but I think we should certainly follow that model.
 
Due to government's amoral ~40% ownership of Telkomonopoly, it means that any schools using Telkomonopoly for their internet connectivity, will one day be receiving ~40% of the 50% discount from government.

Another thing I have often wondered about - why don't schools get themselves VAT registered & claim back VAT from SARS - they could save a fortune...I know doing VAT is a pain in the butt, but it is worth it.
 
ic said:
Another thing I have often wondered about - why don't schools get themselves VAT registered & claim back VAT from SARS - they could save a fortune...I know doing VAT is a pain in the butt, but it is worth it.
Click to expand...

School fees are exempt from VAT i.e. all expenses incured in providing the education for which school fees are received, a VAT input is disallowed. If other income of the school on which VAT is charged exceeds 95% of total accruals/receipts you would then be able to claim input VAT on all expenses.
 
“Telkom has chosen to make procedural rules for the implementation of the 50% discount, which is not necessarily bad; what is bad is that it is incumbent upon Telkom to advertise those procedures and make sure those procedures do not jeopardise the schools' rights,” she says.
Thornton believes Telkom must apply the discount retrospectively even if it takes the company a long time to determine whether a school is registered as a public school.
“If someone (Telkom or an ISP) is not giving a 50% discount, the school could go to ICASA [Independent Communications Authority of SA] and complain,” she says.

With all due respect to lawyers, methinx this particular one has no conception of the logistics involved, and the necessity for ensuring regulatory compliancy - Telkom is a Schedule 2 listed entity in terms of the PFMA.

Sure, in essence what she says is correct, but it has to be borne in mind that there are 360 000 educators as at the last count (probably more by now), all working at one school or the other. Some schools have their connections registered against the educator/principal, others have separate accounts with ISP's, some have more than one line whilst others have none, some are probably in the queue having applied for a service, and so on.

I think this is a cheap shot - Thornton should get off her butt and go check with Telkrap to see exactly what's involved, before running to the press. On the other hand, it's probably a good thing that she's putting pressure on them, to keep them on their toes...
 
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