Introducing educational technology in South Africa will prepare young children for the future and the present state of the modern world.
In a country where our Basic Education System is lacking, and the gap between the third world and first world is stark, providing educational technology such as ICT (Information and Communications Technology) and computer skills at Basic Education Level provides many benefits for children. This is especially so, for those from low income families and public schools.
Prepare them for the future of the Modern World
Various 21st century jobs are either executed entirely or partially on computers or laptops. With the advances of mechanization and AI, increasingly manual jobs will disappear. Computer skills and ICT will prepare young students for the modern world.
Moreover, learning these skills at a young age will be much easier than having to learn them once their basic education is completed.
Connects Students to the Present Situation of the Modern World:
- Latest Information
Computer Skills and ICT assist young students in connecting with the latest modern world information. A well-informed population may lead to a better society.
- Self-Education
The ability to educate oneself beyond the classroom becomes possible with these skills and fosters independence.
- Connections
Providing young students with these skills allows them the benefit of making connections to those outside of their culture, which could increase tolerance. On top of this, ambitious low- income students could make important networking connections that could help close the gap between where they are now, and where they could be in the future.
The Balancing Act
Of course, one must remember that these are young children. Careful supervision is needed and as Letabo Nxumalo from Huffington Post writes, ‘Implementing e-learning programmes in South Africa is easier said than done.’
