Learning resources
Even though many homes in South Africa have limited internet connectivity, there are e-learning sites on offer that are zero rated for data. It is also possible to buy night time data that will allow you to download the school work at low after-hours prices.
The telephone networks in South Africa have zero rated many of the educational sites. Vodacom’s e-school portal, for example, is absolutely free and it covers a range of lessons for all grades from Grade R to Grade 12. The lessons follow the government curriculum. Pupils can access the e-school portal via laptop, smartphone or tablet.
The Department of Education has also loaded text books, work sheets, study guides and revision tests onto their website. There are also plans afoot to partner with the SABC and broadcast lessons on radio and television.
Many South African schools have developed their own e-portals that pupils can log into. This gives them the opportunity to continue their education by completing the modules loaded onto the system by their teachers.
There are also several e-learning platforms that parents can choose from. iWhiz, for example, offers a full educational curriculum that lines up with the Department of Education’s guidelines. It includes lessons for all grades from Grade R to Matric. The platform makes learning fun, by including games, animation and robotics in the lessons. It also includes quizzes and games that test the user’s understanding of the topic before moving on. You can download the program onto smartphones, tablets and laptops.