ICT Barriers in South African education

  South Africa is still a developing country and it faced with many challenges in education especially in bringing ICT in classrooms. ICT is an effective tool in supporting teaching and learning. It has a great potential to enhance students achievements can also help students to become acknowledgeable, reduce the amount of direct instruction given to them. And can help teachers enhance their pedagogical  practice, they can also assist students in learning. But in South Africa we have identified a range of physical factors that affect ICT used by teachers. such as the following :     
                 

• Lack of teacher teacher confidence
• Lack of teacher competence
• Resistance to change & negative attitudes
• Lack of time
• Lack of effective training
• Lack of accessibility
• Lack of technical support                

At my school where i was doing my basic education we also had several challenges when it comes to ICT, We had a lab and enough computers, but the problem was that the teachers did not have experience in ICT, Others have lack of confidence and competence. They also have lack of knowledge to evaluate the use and the role of ICT in teaching.

 

My schooling at Umzimvelo Agricultural Secondary School, Mpumalanga Province

Umzimvelo Agricultural School is an ordinary school which is in Ermelo. I started learning there on 2005 and i was doing grade 8 and completed my metric on 2009. It was so nice to be at this school, i really enjoy my metric and it made me feel like going back and start afresh on grade 8, but since there's no turning back i had to go forward n focus to the future. My metric subjects are as follows: IsiZulu, English, Mathematical Literacy, Life Orientation, Agricultural Technology, Agricultural Management Practices and Consumer Studies. We were using textbook and chalkboard for learning.

There was no technology use in our classroom, so the teachers were doing their best in order to help us, they were very strict and supportive when it comes to academics, they were even willing to sacrifice their time  for learners in order to help them with their school work. I am where i am today because of Umzimvelo and the support of it teachers. Also proud of it, its made me proud of myself, realize how special and beautiful am i ,and how bright i can shine. also learned to be independent and find contentment in myself.

This school is a good school i ever seen u can even go there and see for yourself, i say thank you to Umzimvelo without you i would be nothing in this world and not studying for my degree, you are the best keep on ascending and bring more change in other peoples life.