Press release from Wally Smith of NAPTOSA

The ELRC and consortiums involved in the Teacher Laptop Initiative (TLI) have agreed that it is necessary to hold a roll out launch of the TLI so as to increase teachers’ awareness of the TLI. Due to the delays in rolling out the TLI many teachers have lost interest in the project.

It was initially proposed that a roll-out launch would take place provincially, however, for a number reasons, that will not be possible. A national Roll Out Launch  has been arranged for 15 July 2010 and will take place in Pretoria.

Other strategies that are in the pipeline to renew and heighten teachers’ awareness of the TLI and to provide detail on the various computer packages available include:

• Coverage of the ‘roll-out launch’ by e-tv; and other media;
• A special insert in “The Teacher” (Mail and Guardian);
• Adverts in the national press;
• A website dedicated to the TLI: www.teacher-laptop.co.za. It is expected that this website will be operative from 17 July 2010.

The following process applies when a laptop is purchased:

1. The PED identifies and informs teachers who qualify for the TLI;
2. A written notification from the PED is issued to the teacher;
3. The teacher approaches any accredited supplier at an authorised outlet as identified by the supplier. This will be indicated on www.teacher-laptop.co.za and or the consortium can be contacted in this regard;
4. The teacher has the choice of comparing the different packages offered by the different suppliers;
5. The notification letter is presented to the accredited service provider;
6. The legitimacy of the letter and the identity of the teacher is validated on the Central Registry;
7. Once the teacher chooses a package that will suit his / her needs, the teacher and accredited service provide enter into an agreement;
8. The service provider issues the teacher with a certificate of purchase that contains all the information of the package. Everything from serial numbers to connectivity is captured. The certificate is accompanied by a unique number that that will be verified on the Central Registry;
9. The certificate serves as proof of purchase and will be used to activate the teacher’s email account. It will further be forwarded to the PED to enable the allowance and the monthly stop order for the repayments to be activated;
10. The teacher will be required to sign a Code of Conduct.

Health Warning: Teachers must wait for official notification from their PED informing them that they qualify for the TLI before they purchase a laptop.

Training of Educators: The ‘strategic partners’, viz Symantec, Adobe, Cisco Systems, Intel, Microsoft and Dimension Date will be meeting early next week at the ELRC to discuss a programme for the training of teachers in the use of the laptops and software.

laptops, resources