The Department of Basic Education (DBE), in partnership with Mxit Reach and Unicef, last week unveiled the Ukufunda Virtual School.
Ukufunda, which means "learn" in isiZulu, is a mobile virtual school that can be accessed on a range of mobile devices - including low-end feature phones, smartphones and tablets.
According to Andrew Rudge, Mxit Reach CEO, Ukufunda was modelled on schools regarded as centres of excellence. Components of such schools are replicated in Ukufunda - where learners, educators and parents have access to learning resources and content, counselling and safety services, a central communication and notification hub and various other services and programmes.
Rudge noted that because the school is mobile, it means learning is extended beyond the classroom and can take place anywhere and at any time. "It's essentially a tutor, library, counsellor and mentor in the user's pocket, available 24/7, at virtually no cost to the end-user," he noted.
Speaking at the launch, Enver Surty, deputy minister of basic education, said ICT is the only tool that will bridge the education divide and address inequalities within the education system.
"We have the political responsibility of ensuring that we utilise technology in order to bridge the digital divide and provide quality education," he said.
Surty noted the school aims to address inequalities in the school system, raise education standards and put the power of education in the hands of every learner, teacher and parent.
According to Surty, teachers are the first stakeholder group and the DBE will utilise and test tools like the virtual calendar, by populating it with key dates and disseminating important notices. The DBE will also roll out a diagnostic tool for teachers to help improve their content knowledge.
He explained the second phase of deployment will focus on learners and will be complemented by a comprehensive online safety programme.
The final phase, planned for mid-2015, is the roll out of Ukufunda to parents, he concluded.
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