Photo by [Mail & Guardian]
South Africa’s education system has struggled for many years with poor infrastructure, a lack of resources and a shortage of qualified and trained educators. Coupled by the fact that many schools and students have little to no access to technology or the internet. A strange phenomenon considering that we live in a digital environment.
While the government seems to be in denial concerning the reality of education in our country, since the COVID-19 lockdown period, many families, teachers and students have found alternatives through technology. Although technology is not the answer to the problems in the country’s education system, it does have the potential to provide solutions to some of the challenges and help improve its overall quality.
Online Learning Platforms
Technology has enabled students to access educational resources through online learning platforms. These platforms provide students access to video lectures, interactive tutorials and testing opportunities.
However, Teacher A, a primary school educator, said, “It can help address some of the issues in our education system, but it becomes a problem when there’s not enough access to online resources”.
Furthermore, online is a safer and more effective environment. The downfall is that it may take away from the productivity of the interactive teacher/student dynamic.
The educator teaching a class and asking them a question regarding the lesson. [Source: Centre for Development and Enterprise]
Digital Textbooks
In South Africa, many schools do not have access to textbooks or have outdated textbooks. Some of the benefits of digital books include their functionality, accessibility and affordability.
The learner is easily accessing information via the tablet. [Source: TimesLive]
Digital textbooks expose students to knowledge they would not ordinarily find in traditional books. In addition, Teacher B, a primary and high school educator, said that digital textbooks “Allow learners to become more tech-savvy, as well as be able to easily access the content they require”.
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Interactive Learning Tools
Technology can provide students with interactive learning tools, making learning more engaging and enjoyable. These tools can help students comprehend complex concepts and improve their problem-solving skills.
The learners are interacting with the touch screen monitor during english class. [Source: Edit Micro]
Teacher A said, “By being interactive, the children can engage with it. When they’re able to engage with anything, they can do [better], go further and achieve more”.
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The Importance of Teacher Training Programs
Many teachers in South Africa need more skills and knowledge to integrate technology effectively into their teaching practices. Therefore, training programs are crucial as it provides teachers with the necessary skills and expertise to use and implement the benefits of technology in the classroom.
a group of educators, attending a class to develop their digital skills. [Source: Commonwealth of Learning]
Teacher B said, “It is vital that educators are constantly trained to adapt to the ongoing changes in society. Training allows teachers to access a much broader, more accurate spectrum of content development”.
Despite the potential role of technology in addressing the persistent challenges faced by South Africa’s education system, the need for more access to digital resources worsens the situation. Therefore, accessibility is a vital challenge which needs to be addressed.
