"ICT Barriers in South African Education"

BARRIERS TO ICT  INTEGRATION IN SA SCHOOLS

Information and Communications Technology is an umbrella term that includes any communication device or application,including: radio, television, cellular phones, computer and network hardware and software, satellite systems and so on .However in this case we refer ICT in a context of education.

In rural schools students do not have ICT background and consequently their progress at tertiary education level and career choices suffer. This is because of the following:

• Inappropriate rooms available to house the technology and inadequate furniture and other basic resources
• Unavailability of electricity in rural areas
• Low literacy level
• Lack of qualified and competent personnel to teach and provide support for ICT in rural schools
• The unpreparedness of both educators and learners to utilize ICT  resources provided
• High cost of installation
• Accessibility to hardware and software
• The inability of the Department of Education to avail resources that will sustain the project
• Lack of support and maintenance

Teachers also have the ability to hinder the process of ICT from taking place in schools by;

• Being satisfied with their current teaching methods
• Lacking knowledge
• Thinking the use of technology is too loaded with critical difficulties
• And by not making time to spend on the types of lessons best supported by technology

The other reason why the urban areas will always be high in development of ICT than rural areas is because they possess the attraction in terms of good job opportunities,good social life,infrastructure and the business to provide financial acumen.This is exactly why the rural schools are technological underdeveloped including the school i matriculated in.

Also the cost of acquiring ICT resources is not a one time investment but a recurring expense. The cost includes among others: acquiring software, maintenance and repairs, replacements, training, internet access, insurance, setting up a room to use as computer centre and installing the necessary security devices. Rural schools cannot afford such.