Johannesburg - Deputy President Cyril
Ramaphosa praised the steps being taken towards digital education in the
country on Wednesday, after he and Gauteng premier David Makhura unveiled the
first “classroom of the future” at a school in Tembisa, Johannesburg.
"I've already made an application, I
want to join you in this class," Ramaphosa told pupils at Boitumelo
Secondary School.
The Smart Schools project was being
launched at seven Gauteng township schools.
After Ramaphosa and Makhura unveiled a
plaque in one of the classrooms it was time for "the big switch on".
Ramaphosa pressed a button on one of the
two big computer screens that took the place of a chalkboard at the front of the
classroom, switching them on to cheers and applause.
He then sat in the front row of the
classroom while a teacher demonstrated how the system worked.
There were cheers as pupils answered a
question on their new tablet computers and the answers popped up on one of the
computer screens.
"You are very lucky to be in this
school, to be in this class," Ramaphosa said.
He told pupils to grab the opportunity to
be the best they could be.
Earlier Basic Education Minister Angie
Motshekga unveiled the school's new "science smart" facility.
Gauteng MEC for education Panyaza Lesufi
and Makhura also unveiled the Harry Gwala Centre for training.
They were accompanied by members of Gwala's
family.
Gwala was a teacher and an African National
Congress and SA Communist Party organiser and leader during the struggle
against anti-apartheid.
