State-of-the-Nation Address: popularizing the use of computers in education-First laptop consignment for teachers expected in June |30 April 2007

A communiqué from the President’s Office said that Government is offering to teachers who wish to participate in the scheme the opportunity of choosing between two Dell laptop models, namely the Inspiron 1501 and the Inspiron 6400.

Both will be delivered with the latest Microsoft Vista Operating System as well as MS Office Professional Plus.

The prices will be R2,500 and R3,500, respectively. These prices are only 25% of the market value.

Government, through Dell local distributor Space 95, has negotiated a bulk price for the laptops and is also subsidizing it.

Arrangements for the purchase of the computers by teachers and distribution will be made by the Ministry of Education.

Space 95 will provide the after sales support for the equipment and also handle the warranty processing.

In his State-of-the-Nation Address in March the President said before introducing the scheme that “we have to appreciate the hard work of our teachers”. He praised them for their devotion and noble contribution.

Government is urging all teachers to avail themselves of this opportunity as the laptops will not only benefit the users but will also enable teachers to better guide students on the use of personal computers and the internet.

The President also announced, in parallel to the laptop scheme for teachers, that government would boost the capacity of all secondary and post-secondary schools to have access to information technology.

The goal of introducing computers and the internet to all students of all ages will only be successful if the students are properly guided in the use of the information technologies.

Hence, a need to provide teachers with the necessary tools to provide that guidance has been identified.

Given the mobile nature of a teacher’s work, moving between classes, sometimes even schools, and also working at home, it has been decided that a laptop would be the hardware of choice.
Money collected from the sale of the laptops will build up a fund for the continuity of the scheme.