The Portfolio Committees on Telecommunications and Postal Services and on Basic Education expressed satisfaction with progress regarding the Information and Communications Technology (ICT) Schools-Connect project. So far, 11 528 schools have been connected.

The Committees were briefed by three departments: Telecommunications and Postal Services; Basic Education and the Gauteng provincial Department of Education.   

Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on Basic Education, Ms Nomalungelo Gina, said although welcoming the progress, the Committees still expected departments to ensure that the project improved the quality of education in the country. 

The meeting was intended to look at the progress following a meeting that took place in 2014, in which collaboration on the coordination of the project was emphasised. The Gauteng Department of Education was invited to share best practices and input on the project. The Independent Communication Authority of South Africa (Icasa) and Universal Services Access Agency of South Africa (USAASA) also attended the meeting.

Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on Telecommunications and Postal Services, Ms Mmamoloko Kubayi said there was a need for the Department of Telecommunications and Postal Services as well as the Department of Basic Education to finalise issues of funding models.

“This model is needed urgently to close a funding gab for Universal Services and Access Obligation (USAO),” she said. 

The Director-General at the Department of Basic Education, Mr Hubert Mweli, has said that all schools will be connected by 2019. 

Issued by Parliamentary Communication Services on behalf of the Chairperson of the Chairpersons of the Portfolio Committees on Telecommunications and Postal Services and on Basic Education, Ms Mmamoloko Kubayi and Ms Nomalungelo Gina