ICT BARRIERS IN SOUTH AFRICAN EDUCATION

Research has shown that using of ICT in education compared to traditional methods is much more effective for learning-teaching process (Hartley, 2007). it has been shown that technology-based education,compared to traditional methods, are superior for students developments.

ICT is define as a global network in which ideas are exchanged or information and knowledge is shared through using communication like cellphones, and technology like computers to connect people.

Despite the desperate need for ICT implementation in schools to be spread across the length and breadth of south Africa, there are a number of challenges or barriers that make it impossible to achieve this goal this challenges or barriers are:

• lack of funding to acquire computers
• an absence of electricity, most in rural areas  
• insufficient building space
• lack of available and trained staff to manage ICT
• poor or insufficient security
• inadequate classroom/relatively smaller class size
• inability of parents to meet additional financial cost
• inability to integrate ICT effectively into the normal school routine
• not enough dedicated computer teachers
• insufficient ICT equipment/absent of ICT equipment
• technical fault in with ICT equipment                       
  

the use of ICT may not be the cue for all of the problems that currently face the education authorities in South Africa and may challenges do remain in terms of implementing or introducing ICT into school, as mentioned above, however research both locally and around Africa has shown that the use of ICT can greatly influence and improve the productivity and efficiency of both teaching and learning.

MY SCHOOL WITH  ICT

although there has been a strong push to get educational  technology into the hands of teachers and students, many obstacle to implement ICT in schools is still faced. according to Crede and Mansell (1998) human beings have a basic needs for information and communication .

my school use traditional teaching methods that have stayed the same for the last few decades or so as it was previously disadvantaged school and has faced numerous  challenges that had lead to ICT barriers. the following are the challenges or barriers that are faced in my school :

•  decreasing ability to collect school fees from parents of learners and declining financial support from government 
• there is insufficient of computers, computers are mainly used for administrative purposes such as keeping students record, recording examination marks, producing school reports and creating time tables.
• Another challenge is language barrier, English is the dominant language of the Internet, and in my school English is not a mother tongue, this prevent both teachers and learners from effectively using ICT software and hardware available
• there are not enough ICT resources, such as enough computers for the whole school, and my school do not have access to Internet 
• there are older generations of teachers in my school, some of them are struggling to adapt to using ICT and there are not qualified to teach ICT subject like CAT in school.
• ineffective security of the the computers at my school and has resulted in theft of the computers
  

the use of ICT in south African schools will not only enhance learning and teaching in education, but in the long run will give south African people a comparative advantage in coping with and competing in an ever demanding twenty-first century labour market and finding solutions into some of the Africa's developmental challenges, that is why i would like my school to overcome this ICT barriers.

  My personal journey

My final school year at Takheni senior secondary school, mpumalanga. Takheni is situated in Elukwatini a rural village near Badplaas in Gert Sibande region under the Albert Luthuli municipality. It start from grade eight up until grade twelve what is well known as matric. it has got three streams that is science stream, commercial stream and general stream. It is a dinaledi school and recently it has become a science school. Takheni secondary school is a public school specializing in ordinary. It is the best government school and it has got a good overall result. All the teachers in the school are committed and it has got a dedicated principal. It is a no fee school in the Eesterhoek magisterial district.

I started to go to Takheni secondary school in 2010 when I was doing grade 8 and I matriculated there in 2014. I was in the science stream doing the following seven subject:

• mathematics
• physical science
• life science
• geography
• life orientation
• English first additional language
• SiSwati home language

My school did not have much access to technology,so when we had to apply to university institution we struggle alot but luckily enough the was a free internet access in another internet cafe where they help school pupils with applications to university institution and school work.The only technology we used in my school was a projector, this projector was used to project work that the teachers compile for us and we watched educational videos from it. I think my school did not have much access to much technology because it is situated in rural area where the is poverty, most parents in the community earn a little and they can't afford to pay a contribution to the school. The is also a lack of sponsors to support the school with funds although my school don't have access to much technology but it is the best school in town every year, Takheni reproduce high pass rate  percentage every year. I  love my school.

 HERE IS A LINK THAT WILL SEND YOU WHERE MY SCHOOL IS SITUATED.