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Staff Reporter
Basic Education Deputy Minister, Dr Reginah Mhaule, addressed delegates during the opening of the SchoolNet South Africa Digital Learning Conference at the Anton Lembede Mathematics, Science and Technology (MST) Academy in eThekwini in the KwaZulu-Natal Province recently.
The Conference, which took place under the theme: “Digital Education for the Future”, reflected the need for education to embrace the 21st Century opportunities and challenges posed by digital technologies such as Coding and Robotics and Artificial Intelligence to foster the skills and competencies essential for creativity, innovation, collaboration and sustainability.
Approximately 400 educators, education officials and sector organisations attended the Conference from 25 – 27 March 2024, focusing on professional development aligned with the following conference topics: Coding, Robotics, and Artificial Intelligence in the Classroom; Learning through play; Assessment Strategies for Digital Learning; Designing Creative and innovative Learning; and a Future-focused culture of sustainable learning. The Conference therefore aimed at equipping teachers with practical experience in integrating digital tools in the classroom to improve learning outcomes through best practice and sustaining professional development networks after the Conference.
Deputy Minister Mhaule said that, “we must lay strong foundations through basic education, preparing learners from Grade R up to Grade 12 and to respond to 21st Century needs and skill sets required for a changing world. This Conference takes place during the 30 Years of Freedom and Democracy celebrations and Human Rights Month celebrations; technology must be inclusive and assistive devices should be accessible to learners with special needs.
“KZN has proved, beyond a doubt, that digital education is possible in remote rural areas. The commitment of the province towards enhanced performance is reflected in the recent National Senior Certificate (NSC) examination results. The Basic Education Sector is continuing its upward trajectory to ensure a resilient and responsive education system for an inclusive lifelong and relevant learning for the future.
“SchoolNet has been working in training, development and the support of teachers through ICTs for 27 years to prepare them to use these solutions to increase access and to better classroom practice and planning, fully aligned to the curriculum, goals and objectives of the DBE.”
Mhaule was accompanied by KZN Education MEC, Mbali Frazer. During the Conference, Frazer made reference to the value of ICT in education, as well as the importance of collaboration in making education accessible to all educators and to capacitate them with the necessary skills for the Fourth and Fifth Industrial Revolution: “Our teachers need to be empowered to impart the necessary knowledge and skills to learners.” She thanked SchoolNet and Telkom for their sustained commitment and partnership.
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