The 2004 White Paper on e-Education also referred to as “White Paper 7”, states that “every teacher and learner in General and Further Education and Training must have access to an educational network and the Internet”.  The White Paper envisaged all institutions of learning, including schools to be connected to both the Educational Network and the Internet by the end of 2010. During 2014, Operation Phakisa identified the need for 100% coverage of ICT in the education sector, at an envisaged cost of R30 billion.

The DBE’s strategic goals for 100% universal access anticipates devices and connectivity for learners, teachers and classrooms; teacher development to integrate ICTs into classroom practice; remote learning support for virtual classes across platforms; and digital content to support learning and teaching via various digital resources. In seeking to raise R1bn per year, the Director-General requested each province to identify at least R100m per year to support the delivery of ICTs to schools. PEDs responded to the call that we can report, that in the 2021/22 and 2022/23 Financial Years, they collectively raised over R2bn each year which was double what the DG has targeted.

Mr Seliki Tlhabane, DBE’s Chief Director for MST and Curriculum Enhancement Programmes reported that, “in bringing connectivity to schools, the Minister directed that special schools be prioritised. In partnership with the DCDT and Mobile Network Operators, 317 special schools have also received connectivity, as well as ICT Infrastructure that includes Assistive Devices to cater for different types of disabilities. A total of 130 special schools must still be completed. The South Africa Connect Policy, which is SA’s Broadband Policy, was adopted by Cabinet in December 2013. Due to its scale and complexity, and budget cuts, only a reduced Phase 1 programme was implemented with a total of 594 public schools connected at the speed of 10Mbps. On 28 January 2022, Cabinet approved the implementation of Phase 2 of the SA Connect, which will see 19,036 schools connected to bring connectivity to all schools. The Acting Director-General of the Department of Communications and Digital Technologies (DCDT) presented the approved implementation plan to the DBE and Members of the Executive Councils (MECs) for Education. DCDT and Openserve met with the DBE to discuss the provision of broadband connectivity to approximately 1,200 public schools. These schools are on the Openserve Fibre Infrastructure Network footprint and Openserve therefore submitted their proposal to the Department on 13 July 2023. Letters have been mailed to the HODs offices regarding this matter and discussions are underway in respect of the way forward. It is commendable to note that, since 2014, connectivity has been provided from a baseline of 48% in 2014, to 80% of schools in 2022.

The DBE recommends that the DCDT should put policy in place to ensure that all schools are provided with connectivity for administration as part of Universal Service Access Obligations. Schools in the basic education sector should be divided amongst the Mobile Network operators in the country. Schools should be allowed to stream educational content that is 100% zero-rated and learners should be provided with sim-cards that will enable them to access educational resources. The DCDT and the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (ICASA) should create a National Connectivity Dashboard where stakeholders can verify the connectivity at each school. In the long term, Government should allocate a budget towards the implementation of the SA Connect Policy for all schools to be provided with broadband connectivity, as well as last mile connectivity as part of the SA Connect Policy. Government, through the State Information Technology Agency (SITA), should create a Virtual Private Network for all Public Ordinary and Special Schools. The DBE Cloud should be hosted by SITA to ensure that the schools will have access to CAPS aligned content and quality teaching and learning resources.