Date: 03/11/2006
Soruce: Department of Education
Title: Pandor: Launch of the International Association for Digital Publications'(IADP) Affordable Access Programme


Speech by the Minister of Education, Naledi Pandor, at the launch of the International Association for Digital Publications'(IADP) Affordable Access Programme at the University of the Western Cape, Bellville

"Affordable access to computers must reshape teaching and learning"

Mr Angus Scrimgeour, President of the International Association for Digital Publications and members of the IADP Board,
Ms Jennie Glennie, Director of the South African Institute for Distance Education (SAIDE),
Professor O'Connell, Vice-Chancellor of the University of the Western Cape,
Representatives from the four participating South African universities University of Fort Hare (UFH), University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN), University of Western Cape (UWC) and University of South Africa (UNISA),
Distinguished guests:

Thank you for the invitation to join you in celebrating the official launch of the International Association for Digital Publications' Affordable Access Programme.

I must start by acknowledging with appreciation the role of the International Association for Digital Publications' partners in this exciting initiative:

- SAIDE
- the four participating universities: UFH, UKZN, UWC and UNISA
- the open access links to courseware from organisations such as the Commonwealth of Learning, United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO), Mindset and partial links to the African Virtual University and the South African e-learning portal
- the support from donors including the Carnegie Corporation of New York, the Hedley Trust and the Ford Foundation.

Higher education (HE) across the world faces numerous challenges and teaching institutions have to change their modes of operation to deliver knowledge fast and effectively.

In particular, higher education institutions (HEI) have to take advantage of the development of new technologies.

Institutions are, in turn, challenged to change their modes of operation in order to respond effectively and efficiently to the needs of an innovative developmental economy. In other words, what we need are transformed and responsive universities.

There is also an urgent need to establish new partnerships in knowledge creation and distribution.

The Affordable Access Programme is an excellent example of how partnerships both international and local can support our shared goal of enhancing affordable and quality access to HE studies. I have no doubt that the sharing of e-learning and multi-media material and of ideas on the appropriate educational use of technology will go a long way towards creating a community of best practice among all the participants.

I am particularly excited by the innovative use of information technology (IT) to provide low-cost computers that will also be e-book readers. I know e-book readers that you can hold in your hand have not yet caught on, but I am sure that their time will come. I would prefer to read a real book but if the experience of reading an e-book can simulate the experience of reading a real book I am sure that this new technology like so many other communication technologies will grab the attention of pupils and students throughout the country.

I am also excited by the fact that these computers will maintain a technology platform with an open source repository.

In this week's Financial Mail newspaper, I read with interest that Mark Shuttleworth's Ubuntu operating system has become the most popular open source operating system currently in use throughout the world.

I shall closely watch the development of the Affordable Access Programme and its potential for replication in other parts of our education system including the ongoing professional development of teachers. I would in the meanwhile suggest that you also explore the possibility of drawing selected Further Education and Training (FET) colleges into this innovative and groundbreaking work.

I understand that the Affordable Access Programme will enable students to carry their course material for each academic year on their low-cost portable computers.

This holds out much promise particularly for students who do not have ready access to university based computer laboratories. It could also change the way students learn through distance education institutions in this country.

I hope that the improved access to quality learning materials will make a significant difference to the performance of our students in HE. Too many students in our universities do not complete their studies in the minimum time and/or drop out without completing their qualifications.

A host of different factors contribute to the underperformance of students including students' academic under-preparedness, ill-informed career and programme choices and key issues to do with poverty or financial hardship.

However, the appropriateness of the nature and structure of the current curriculum in higher education clearly requires urgent and systematic attention.

The time is long overdue for us to re-visit the way in which we teach and what we teach.

The quality of the learning and teaching environment and access to learning materials and laboratories also need to be carefully examined.

I hope that the Affordable Access Programme will be an important catalyst in this process of reforming teaching and learning in higher education.

Let us, however, not forget that technologies per se are not proxies for teaching and learning. You will remain challenged to enhance the learning experience for the participating students in this pilot. You will still need to help students to gain confidence in the technologies and knowledge of their chosen disciplines and fields.

The success of this programme will be measured by the changes it brings to teaching and learning in participating institutions.

I want to challenge you to create a stimulating academic environment that reflects the demands we make on students.

I also want to challenge you, as institutions, to seek ways of increasing your ability to acquire, share, and use knowledge in better, quicker and more effective ways.

In essence, I am challenging you to reshape dramatically the ways in which you undertake teaching and learning.

In closing, I wish to say that I welcome this partnership between the IADP, the SAIDE, sponsors and sister universities.

In the beginning, the test for this initiative will be the degree to which it increases access to quality learning materials. Ultimately the focus will be on its impact on improving learning outcomes measured by increased numbers of skilled, skilful and resilient graduates.

I wish to congratulate you on this challenging and exciting initiative that opens doors to immense possibilities.

I thank you!

Issued by: Department of Education
3 November 2006