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SUBJECT:         Teacher Laptop Initiative - UPDATE

DATE:                27 February 2010

1.         INTRODUCTION

The much-anticipated rollout of the Teacher Laptop Initiative, which was intended to be in February 2010, has been delayed by a few crucial matters that have to be finalised. The official rollout of the TLI has thus not yet begun. However, it is important that teachers should be aware of developments and not be misled into purchasing a laptop only to discover at a later stage that they do not qualify for a subsidy and/or stop order facility.

 

The Department of Basic Education (DoBE) informed the ELRC that the rollout will be done in cohorts specific to the size and funds available to the individual Provincial Education Departments (PED).

 

According to Government Gazette 32207, the PEDs will implement the allowance on a preference list of educators based on their seniority. The DoBE advised that seniority refers to rank and has already sent an instruction to the provinces that principals will be the first group of educators who will be eligible to purchase a laptop.

 

 

2.         accredited suppliers

 

What is important to note is that only when an educator purchases a laptop package from an accredited supplier, he/she will qualify for a stop order facility. Although teachers may purchase a laptop from any outlet in order to qualify for the subsidy (R130 pm), the teacher will not receive this allowance if the laptop does not meet all the specifications as stipulated in the Government Gazette 32207. It is unlikely that a dealer who is not an accredited provider will be able to supply the full package (hardware, connectivity, insurance and finance) at the same price as the accredited provider.

 

The ten provisionally accredited consortia/suppliers for participation in the first phase of the TLI are: Dell/Laptitude, Fujitsu, Hewlett-Packard, Lenovo, MTN, Pinnacle, Sahara Systems, Telkom, Mustek, Vodacom, LG and Cell C. The word “provisional” is used as the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the ELRC on behalf of the teacher unions, and the service providers has not yet been finalised.

 

 

3.         PROCESS AND PurchasE

 

The accredited service providers will identify outlets or “one stop shops” where a teacher may purchase the complete package (including the finance agreement). The accredited service providers will have a “good, better, best” range of packages where the maximum all inclusive monthly repayment cannot exceed R390.00. Qualifying teachers will receive a monthly allowance of R130.00 (taxable) and will be required to fund the difference between the allowance (R130.00) and the monthly repayments of the package. Most of the packages from the provisionally accredited suppliers cost between R250.00 and R350.00 per month. The repayments will be spread over a period of five years.

 

The process for purchasing the laptop package is in the last stages of development and currently stands as follows:

 

1.     The Provincial Education Department (PED) will identify and inform educators who qualify for the TLI.

2.     The written notification from the PED will be shown to the accredited service provider (the PED will issue a list of the providers and their identified outlets).

3.     The educator and accredited service provider will enter into an agreement.

4.     The service provider will issue the educator with a certificate that must be sent through to the PED to enable the allowance and the monthly stop order for the repayments, to be activated.

 

Once the MOUs are finalised, all the information will be posted on the ELRC website, which will make it easy for teachers to obtain information. A frequently asked questions page will also be added to the ELRC website to answer questions that teachers might have.

 

 

4.         strategic partners

 

The strategic partners to the initiative are: The software suppliers Microsoft, Symantec and Adobe who will be reinvesting in the initiative towards professional development of teachers; Dimension Data who has designed the central database that will be used by all the service providers to register the laptop packages purchased by educators; and Intel who will be supplying the Intel Skoool^TM software and will be providing training for teachers.

 

Software to be preloaded on all laptops before allocation is:

1.     Microsoft Windows 7 Pro operating system

2.     Microsoft Office Enterprise software

3.     Symantec Security software

4.     Adobe Digital Schools Collection

5.     Adobe Presenter Package

6.     Intel Skoool (School) training materials

7.     Microsoft Digital Literacy Curriculum and the Partners in Learning Teacher Training Model

8.     Connectivity Software

9.     Microsoft Live@Edu email address activated against individual PERSAL numbers

10.  ELRC Policy Materials

 

 

5.         Matters to BE finaliseD

 

Some of the immediate matters that need finalisation are:

 

1.     The MOUs between the ten provisionally accredited suppliers and the ELRC on behalf of the unions need to be finalised. Before this can happen however, the legal entity representing each consortium must be registered with National Treasury and allocated a stop order code. Stop orders from payroll can only be processed with a National Treasury issued stop order code. The DoBE is currently in the process of finalising the matter with National Treasury.

 

2.     Further, a proposal has been submitted to National Treasury to automate the process of stop orders and allowance activation by using a single collection agency that is recognised by Persal and/or is already integrated to Persal at the DoBE and National Treasury. This will not only speed up the process involved in collecting and distributing funds, but will centralise the entire process with a National Treasury approved service provider and minimise the opportunity for fraudulent activities. The process will be finalised once National Treasury approves the proposal. 

 

3.     Final updated pricing needs to be submitted by consortia in order to populate the central registry developed by Dimensions Data.

 

4.     The code of conduct that teachers will have to sign as undertaking, as well as the application forms that they are required to complete, are currently being finalised between the DoBE and the teacher unions.

 

6.         CONCLUSION

 

The aim of this initiative is to improve student performance and continuous teacher professional development. The main focus of all stakeholders involved in this process is to ensure that all possible challenges are confronted and solutions sought before the rollout. This will in turn ensure that the initiative serves its purpose as an essential component in our collective quest for a quality education system.

 

 

7.         Health Warning TO ALL EDUCATORS

 

Educators are urged to be patient and allow for all the necessary processes to be completed before the rollout can take place. The official rollout will only be announced by the ELRC on behalf of the teacher unions.

 

Teachers are advised to wait for the list of approved service providers and for the official notification letter from the PED.

 

 

 

END
Issued by: ELRC obo Teacher Trade Unions (CTU-SADTU and CTI-ITU)
 

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Teacher Laptop Initiative Launch - 11th December 2009 

 

               

The launch of the Teacher Laptop Initiative was held at the Sheraton Hotel in Pretoria on 11th December 2009. This initiative forms part of the cohesive plan by the Department of Basic Education (DoBE) and other stakeholders in education to improve the overall quality of education by making resources available to learners and educators in the public education sector. It also forms a central part of the DoBE’s objective to expand the utilization of Information and Communications Technology (ICT) in teaching and learning.
 
The primary aim of the Teacher Laptop Initiative is to make laptops available to all teachers in the public education sector. This is meant to improve the quality of teaching, as teachers will have access to additional resources that can enhance learning and teaching in the classroom. All laptops will have Internet access and will be loaded with school administration and national curriculum software.  The Government Gazette No 32207 of 8 May 2009 determined the policy related to payment of the laptop allowance to teachers, and the specifications of the laptops to be availed. Provincial Education Departments will implement the project and inform teachers about the venture.
 
The official launch consisted of exhibitions by the then nine provisionally accredited suppliers that have been selected to participate in the initiative. A mock-up classroom exhibition, where learners and teachers had a practical demonstration of how laptops can enhance learning and teaching in the classroom was also arranged. The media had the opportunity to engage with teachers, learners, and consortiums to hear their views on how the initiative can contribute to the teaching and learning experience in the classroom. 
 

 

The launch coincided with the Council of Education Ministers Meeting, overseen by the Minister of Basic Education, Mrs Angie Motshekga, MP. The Deputy Minister of Basic Education, Mr Enver Surty, MP, delivered the keynote address over the lunch hour. Other prominent stakeholders in education that attended the launch included provincial MECs; provincial Heads of Education Departments, Presidents of the educator trade unions in the ELRC, CTU-ITU (NAPTOSA; NATU; PEU; SAOU) and CTU-SADTU (SADTU; CTPA) as well as prominent members of the various consortia. 
 

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BACKGROUND

 

The Teacher Laptop Initiative, spearheaded by the Department of Basic Education (DoBE), addresses South Africa’s need for a quality education system and forms part of the cohesive plan by the DoE and other stakeholders in education to improve the overall quality of education by making resources available to learners and educators in the public education sector.

 

The initiative forms part of the DoBE’s objective to improve Information and Communications Technology (ICT) in teaching and learning. A Special Task Team consisting of the combined trade unions (CTU-SADTU and CTU-ITU) and the ELRC was formed in April 2009 to drive this initiative. The Government Gazette No 32207 of 8 May 2009 determined the policy related to payment of the laptop allowance to teachers, and the specifications of the laptops to be availed.  Purchases by teachers of laptops within this scheme will be phased in from February 2010, starting with those with the longest service. Provincial Education Departments will implement the project and inform teachers about the venture.

 

The ICT package will consist of appropriate hardware and software, as well as Internet connectivity, all with prescribed minimum specifications, and covered by insurance.  A monthly allowance will be paid to qualifying teachers for a period of 5 years, renewable every 5 years, upon proof of acquiring the computer. The allowance is intended to assist the educators in their learning and teaching experience as well as the administration of their learning and teaching.

 

The Special Task Team was tasked with investigating models to provide simple, cost effective mechanisms for educators to obtain their own laptop computers over a period of 3 – 5 years. The three approved software suppliers are: Microsoft, Intel and Symantec. Nine consortia are accredited for participation in the initiative in the first phase.

 

Provisionally accredited suppliers are:

 

Dell Laptitude                         Lenovo                         Sahara Systems                            Mustek

Fujitsu                                      MTN                            Telkom and Mustek                     LG

Hewlett Packard                     Pinnacle                      Vodacom                                       Cell C

                                         

Discussions were held with Microsoft SA and Symantec SA regarding competitive pricing for the necessary software for use of the laptops. SARS was also consulted with a view to exploring the possibility of minimising tax payable on the laptop allowance. 

 

Ultimately the laptop packages will consist of the following:

·         Computer laptop

·         Microsoft Windows operating system

·         Microsoft Office 7 software

·         Symantec security software

·         Adobe Creative software

·         Intel Teach training materials

·         Department of Education curriculum software

·         Connectivity

·         Email address activated against individual PERSAL numbers

·         Insurance

·         Finance

 

Towards the end of October 2009, arrangements received the approval of the Director-General of Basic Education, Mr Duncan Hindle, who mandated its roll out. A meeting was held at the Eskom Convention Centre on 12^th November 2009 with the consortia and teacher unions to inform all parties of the need for the consortia to review their proposals in the light of finalisation of details, and to prepare for the roll out.

 

Committees were formed at this meeting to address details of the roll out, such as the drafting Memoranda of Understanding between suppliers and the Special Task Team, and the issue of registration of teachers’ purchase of their laptops in order to minimise opportunities for fraud and corruption.