INSPIRE Provincial Information Society Strategy Programme in the Republic of South Africa

1. INSPIREProvincial Information Society Strategy Programme in the Republic of South Africa “The need to create an Information Society...” e-School Network Conference 01 October 2008

2. Overview Background Building an Inclusive Information Society National Cabinet Decisions The National ISAD Plan INSPIRE Programme Stakeholders and Beneficiaries Institutional Arrangements Roles of the Working Groups e-Education Pilot Project

3. Background In 2001 President Mbeki established the PNC on ISAD and the PIAC on ISAD The President announced need for an ICT University South Africa has long recognised importance of ICTs for development and the need to build an inclusive Information Society with a development agenda South Africa hosted the Information Society and Development (ISAD) Summit

4. Building an Inclusive Information Society In 2002 the PNC on ISAD noted that, in order to build an inclusive Information Society there was a need for – An explicit, strategic national shared vision A clear, comprehensive, integrated and aligned framework The institutional means to co-ordinate the implementation of the strategy, to effectively monitor, evaluate the impact of IS development

5. National Cabinet Decisions In February 2007 the Cabinet approved - The National Information Society and Development (ISAD) Plan as a framework for building an inclusive information society in South Africa • The country’s vision for building an inclusive Information Society: ‘Establish South Africa as an advanced Information Society in which ICT tools and information are key drivers of economic and societal development’

6. National Cabinet Decisions The Institutional mechanisms for building the Information Society in South Africa • The Information Society and Development Intergovernmental Relations Forum(ISAD IGRF) • A Ministerial ISAD Committee, chaired by the Presidency, and its corresponding FOSAD ISAD Cluster

7. The National ISAD Plan

8. INSPIRE Programme • Limpopo and the Northern Cape provinces were selected as pilot provinces for the establishment of information society strategy and model. • The strategy and model will be replicated in other provinces and possibly in SADC countries. • Duration of programme is 3 years (2008-2010), and it is funded by the Government of Finland for 4 077 000 euros

9. INSPIRE Objectives • Enhance the delivery and implementation of the provincial growth and development strategy (PGDS) for poverty alleviation • To create an integrated, comprehensive and feasible inclusive provincial information society strategy and development models in the provinces of Limpopo and Northern Cape • To ensure coordination and assessment of ICT policies, projects and programmes in government

10. INSPIRE Components Component 1: Technical Assistance Component 2: Strategy Process Component 3: Capacity Building Component 4: Technical Infrastructure Component 5: Strategy-induced Initiatives

11. Institutional Arrangements Supervisory Board Project Steering Committee Inter-Provincial Working Group PROVINCIAL ISAD STRUCTURE Social Dimension Economic Dimension Technological Dimension e-Health Infrastructure SMMEs Open Source Software e-Education Tourism Agriculture e-Government Local Content

12. Stakeholders and Beneficiaries BUG – C Model BUG – C members Government departments Municipalities Parastatals Business Chambers Educational Institutions Research Institutions NGO’s Media Civic Organisations School Governing Bodies (SGB’s) Trade Unions Educator (School Teacher) Bodies Faith-based Organisations Traditional Authorities Citizens

13. Roles of the Working Groups • Awareness raising with provincial departments and municipalities in the field of information society. • Development of concept documents for the information society strategy development • Development of the information society strategy in corporation with technical assistance and selected research company. • Development and implementation of strategy-induced initiatives within provincial departments and municipalities particularly in the key development areas.

14. e-Education Pilot Project

15. Overall Objectives • To support and develop the effective use of ICT in education and training systems • To guarantee that children in the province of Limpopo equally participate in the information society and utilize it in learning. • To develop the good quality products and service and exchange and transfer good practices • To exploit the potential of e-learning in the context of innovation in teaching methods with a view to improving the quality of the learning process and fostering the autonomy of learners.

16. Project Goal To enhance teaching and learning as well as to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of management and administration by integrating innovative information and communication technologies into Secondary Schools, Circuit Offices, District Offices, and Provincial Department of Education in Limpopo at the selected pilot sites.

17. Implementation • Situational analysis in the selected pilot sites. • Provision of ICT connection and infrastructure for pilot sites. • Teachers’ professional development. • Development and testing of new ICT inclusive training and learning models (integrating ICT into teaching and learning). • Collection of best practices and lessons learned for replication.

18. Project Beneficiaries The direct beneficiaries are estimated: • 300 teachers (15 schools x 20 teachers from any disciplines), and 65 management officials (15 schools x 3 School Management Team members, and 15 Circuit Office Managers) within the educational sector of Limpopo Province. Indirect Beneficiaries: • 10 500 learners (15 schools x 700 learners)

19. Thank You Thank You Contact Details Rolda Mamabolo Tel: 015-294 7743 Cell: 072 467 6435 Email: roldam@premier.limpopo.gov.za