So here it is – concrete delivery, not promises of them! 1650 schools connected with computers as part of a cyberlab. 688 of these schools connected since we passed “SA Connect”, our Broadband Policy and Strategy, on 4 December, and this too a good three weeks ahead of the 1 April deadline!

 Of course, this schools connectivity programme flows from the 2010 World Cup Legacy, but it, like all programmes and activities it is now located in terms of “SA Connect”, which has become the framework for much of what our department will do for the years ahead. It’s broadband, broadband, broadband, all-round, everywhere! That’s the main story really! Fast internet transferring huge amounts of data, which over time gives allows the most marginalised people in our society to use their cellphones to connect to the economy and become more integrated in society.   

And let me, let me, immediately thank Telkom and congratulate them for the excellent work they have done in fulfilling this programme. Well, now that they have done so well, they can only aspire to do better. And we urge them to do so. I was with the Telkom CEO, the energetic Sipho Maseko, and Beauty Apleni on Tuesday, and they showed me the educational programmes on these computers, and how they meet the interests not only of the learners and educators, but parents too. What I saw was highly impressive. So, congratulations, congratulations!

And let me too express our gratitude to Deputy Minister Stella Ndabeni-Abrahams for her political leadership of this project. She has been the driving force here. We must thank too the Deputy Minister of Basic Education, Enver Surty and the Deputy Minister  of Science and Technology, Mike Masutha. Through the e-Connectivity Forum hundreds of schools have been connected, changing the lives of thousands of learners forever.  And we’e in this together: the Department’s of Communications, Basic Education and Science and Technology. We need to strengthen our bonds and work even more cooperatively and effectively together. And it’s not just our three departments, but government as a whole. And not just national government, but provincial and local government, and the State-owned companies, Telkom, the private sector, civil society – all of us – schools connectivity should be a massive national project in the interests of our country    

The Schools Connectivity programme has connected hundreds of schools across the country, providing them with internet access and computers or tablets. Since 2009, the Department, SOCs and ICT industry partners have, our officials tell me,  collectively connected 6 841 schools which are equitably spread across all provinces. This brings the total number of schools connected to 8 491, I am told.

Connecting schools is more than just ticking the box to make sure that we have all our schools connected. For many of our children it is the first time that you will have access to a computer and the internet. This is a milestone in your lives and will change the way that you see education. Reports from our other schools that have been connected indicate that learners suddenly started coming early to school and stayed until late after school, just to practice using the computer and accessing the internet.

Just this morning I saw a report on the beneficial use of ICTs, including iPads, at 25 schools in Ekurhuleni and Sedibeng. The Peermont School Support Programme has seen R40 million allocated towards the use of ICTs at 25 schools.  The study showed that the introduction of ICTs led to a decrease in absenteeism and increase in interest in studying from learners.

Absenteeism, said Unity Secondary School principal, “has since decreased and we even find pupils coming to school early to get an opportunity to use the gadgets. (The tablets) have had a truly positive effect on what we do.”

“The tablets have made them eager to learn more”, said teacher Lindiwe Mawela of Gugulesizwe Primary School.

The primary focus of the programme is on English reading, comprehension, numeracy and maths literacy.

School Principal Thobile Mavundla says the tablets “have changed the way our pupils are taught and learn. Community members and parents want their children here.”

I was in Ulundi a month ago to launch a schools cyberlab. I was struck not just by the excited enthusiasm of the learners and educators, but the parents too. Some asked if they can use the computers too – and our reply was, “Yes, of course, why not? As long as it happens within the rules set by the School Governing Bodies or school.”

The internet, of course, opens up a whole new world to children. Being able to watch Tata Madiba walking out of Victor Verster prison on his release in 1990 invokes a different feeling from just being told about it or reading it in a textbook. The internet also allows for much more information on any subject under the sun to be utilised. For a matric pupil considering what subjects to take at university, the words sociology, psychology and social anthropology take on a new meaning with the use of the internet. The internet brings these subjects alive and explains them in a practical way, while at the same time showing the myriad of career options available with each subject, as well as others.

We most certainly didn’t have this in our time at school. For many of my generation the Encyclopedia Britannica was the last word in knowledge. Today it is out of print and one of millions of resources available online.

These computers at schools open up a new, huge wide world for the learners. For the educators and parents too, but ultimately this is primarily about the learners. Used properly, these computers have huge, huge potential to improve the education of learners, increase your prospects of doing well in examinations and enhancing your opportunities for jobs.

This is your property now. It belongs to you. Courtesy of the contribution of the public through its contribution to the national budget. You need to take good care of this precious collective property of yours.

There are programmes to train learners and teachers to use the computers effectively. And we urge that you actively take part in them.

Our Department will visit some of the schools over the next six months to monitor progress, especially how effectively the computers are used.

Teachers, let me just add that this is also an opportunity for you to expand your skills and knowledge towards the betterment of yourself, your learners and your community. Please learn how to use these computers effectively. If you have problems come back to us, and we can together solve them.

You now have access to the best resources available online. It is up to you to take advantage of this to improve your subject knowledge, your teaching skills and to make learning exciting for our children. And this is at the heart of our project. We have often seen with matric results, a rural school with limited or no resources outperforming well-equipped and modern schools. Teachers, and principal – you are that difference! You carry a tremendous responsibility on your shoulders. Of course we have provided you with the facilities. It is up to you to use them to make a difference in your learner’s lives. You are the one who is capable of moulding this generation into our future leaders

Of course connecting schools is part of our wider plan to connect the whole country. Our recently released “SA Connect” will see us providing connectivity to the whole country,  focussing mainly on schools, government offices, police stations, clinics,  hospitals and other public institutions. This will fast-track service delivery to all our citizens, especially those who are not able to afford these services.

We fully welcome ICASA’s amendments to licence obligations, which will see each mobile operator connecting 2000 public schools over a three year period starting from 1  April 2014. Certainly we are reaping the fruits of democracy for our citizens, especially the most poorest amongst us. This is who our government speaks for. Let us not forget that.

We are committed to improving the quality of life of all our citizens.

Thank you for joining us today. To the teachers, parents and learners, I urge you to make the most of the facilities we have provided. I am encouraged by news from other schools we have connected that it has led to an increased interest in learning and education from learners. I am sure that this will be the case here as well.

Together we are moving South Africa forward. Over seven million learners are in no fee schools, up from five million in 2009. The proportion of adults with access to banking services grew from 60% in 2009 to 75% in 2013. Teacher education has expanded with the number of new teacher graduates doubling from 6 000 in 2009 to 13 000 in 2012. Loans and bursaries to poor students grew from 2.3 billion in 2008 to 8 billion in 2013. These are but some of the achievements of our government. Let us continue on this path, changing the lives of the poor for the better.

Together we are moving South Africa forward.