The Gauteng Department of Education (GDE) is preparing to deploy thousands of mobile devices such as tablets and laptops with Internet connectivity, as well as three-dimensional (3D) light-emitting diode (LED) interactive boards, to Grade 12 classes at 375 township and rural high schools in Gauteng.

The technology-enabled teaching and learning initiative, dubbed the ‘paperless classroom programme’, would see in excess of 17 000 tracker-fitted tablets and 1 800 3D LED interactive boards, with teaching software fully integrated with the tablets, installed in matric classrooms at the targeted schools.

Over 4 000 classrooms at the schools had to be refurbished, including having the ceilings replaced and fitted with specialised lights and the installation of blinds to improve lighting for the interactive boards, to accommodate the technology.

However, owing to a requirement for “major infrastructural refurbishments” at some of the schools, about 30% of the targeted schools were experiencing installation delays.

Contractors were on site, with completion expected at end of August.

Further, the GDE was engaging local law enforcement agencies to strengthen security at the schools, with all schools now linked to the nearest police station for rapid response.