The Departments of Basic Education (DBE) and Communications and Digital Technologies (DCDT) jointly briefed their respective Portfolio Committees on 16 September 2025. The departments delivered a consolidated report on the status of provisioning of ICT resources, connectivity and classroom technologies to teachers and learners in the Basic Education Sector as a follow-up on the first briefing held on 20 February 2025. Basic Education Minister, Ms Siviwe Gwarube was joined by Director-General, Mr Mathanzima Mweli, and Senior Management members.

The Minister said that digital education transformation remains a national priority, adding that the report reflects the work underway to finalise the Digital Education Strategy for a new roadmap for digital transformation in schools. “The DBE will review and update the White Paper on e-Education that was developed in 2004 as there are gaps with the policy due to developments in the ICT space. Over the past three years, Provincial Education Departments (PEDs) have invested R7.1 billion of their equitable share to provide ICT devices, connectivity and teacher training, more than half a million learner devices, and 30,000 teacher devices have been provided and over 10,000 classrooms have been equipped”.

Mr Seliki Tlhabane, DBE’s Chief Director for Maths, Science, Technology and Curriculum Enhancement Programmes, delivered the presentation, along with DCDT Chief Director, Ms Meriam Paul. “The Digital Education Strategy is aimed at reimagining the Basic Education Sector. The Strategy was presented to the Heads of Education Departments Committee (HEDCOM) on 2 September 2025. The next phase involves seeking political endorsement from the Council of Education Ministers (CEM) for all teachers, learners, and stakeholders to have equal access to digital technology resources and opportunities to develop the competencies needed to thrive in the digital world. The DBE and DCDT are working with UNICEF and the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) to map schools and connectivity infrastructure in South Africa using the GIGA Monitoring Dashboard App measuring real-time connectivity and installation will commence during September 2025”.

A total of 545,938 learner ICT devices were procured for learning during the 2022 to 2024 financial years. The textbooks and digital resources are loaded on ICT devices that are provided to teachers and learners. A total of 30,818 teacher ICT devices were procured for teaching during the 2022 to 2024 financial years with 10,588 classrooms equipped with ICT resources for teaching and learning. A total of 535,633 learners received connectivity for learning with 59,991 teachers receiving connectivity for content delivery purposes. The DBE, in collaboration with various stakeholders, are offering various teacher training programmes and to date approximately 388,738 teachers have received training.

As part of the collaboration between the DBE, the DCDT and OPENSERVE, a total of 1,224 schools were earmarked to be provided with broadband connectivity, receiving free Internet services for a period of five years. A total of 597 schools received access to this broadband connectivity as part of Phase 1 of the SA Connect Policy. Since 2014, as part of the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa’s (ICASA’s) obligations, 406 out of 461 (88%) public Special Schools have received ICT equipment, connectivity and assistive devices with a total of 12,180 devices having been distributed. ICASA has, in support of the SA Connect Policy, committed to allocate 16,139 public schools to five licensees as a social obligation, with 570 libraries allocated for connectivity. Mobile Network Operators (TELCOS) such as Vodacom, MTN, Telkom and Cell C are providing schools with ICT resources, connectivity and digital content as part of the Corporate Social Investment. Both Departments as well as ICASA agreed that TELCOS should deliver on their social obligations and Government should impose obligations on the ICT Original Equipment Manufacturers to provide schools with ICT devices.

The Portfolio Committee Chairpersons of Basic Education, Ms Joy Maimela, and Communication and Digital Technologies, Ms Khusela Sangoni, agreed that fiscal constraints are a major challenge and that a financing model should be submitted to National Treasury. The two Departments will also compile an action plan on the identified gaps as a way forward, along with continued oversight to ensure compliance and transformation. Technology is not a panacea, but rather a tool designed to support and enhance teaching and learning.