The Deputy Minister for the Public Service and Administration, Ms Sindisiwe Chikunga, and the Executive Director (acting) of Centre for the Public Service Innovation (CPSI), Ms Lydia Sebokedi, handed over an e-Learning Solution to two schools in Katlehong in Gauteng on 25 March 2021.
The Sunward Park School E-learning solution has been replicated in two schools, Reiger Park High School and Katlehong Secondary School, replicated from a winning innovation entered by the Sunward Park High School for the 16th Public Sector Innovation Award.
The School Learning Management System (LMS) is an online learner and learning management solution that introduces cost savings through the Innovative integration of Tools, Content, Users and Rewards.
The solution is also an integration platform for the distribution of ebooks and interactive content and enables the submission of digital handwritten lessons and assessments – homework, classwork, assignments, tests and exams.
The replication comes at a time when there is a need to mitigate against the educational challenges arising from the COVID-19 Pandemic by making learning and teaching material available for learners online. This will also assist in minimizing continuous contact time between learners and educators without compromising access to education.
Speaking at the event, Deputy Minister Chikunga said this initiative is part of the CPSI’s Replication Programme where innovative solutions developed by public institutions are supported for further implementation, ensuring that improvements in service delivery are benefitting a wider community.
The Learning Management System being handed over is one of the innovations that have been a catalyst in the use of technology in education, especially in dealing with the interruptions to education that were brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic.
These challenges and interruptions have highlighted the need for greater reforms for digital transformation and set the tone for the future of learning and readiness to accommodate online teaching.
Deputy Minister Chigunga said as a result, the education sector will need a lot of innovative solutions, which calls for the country to increase the budget for innovation, which will inturn save the country millions.
She congratulated the Centre for Public Service Innovation for working together with the public and the three spheres of government to instill the culture and practice of innovation in the public sector and said this proves that innovation is indeed a catalyst for accelerated service delivery.
“The CPSI performs a very important role in facilitating how the quality of life of citizens may be improved and how potential may be unlocked through innovation in the public sector.
“In addition, through its Public Sector Innovation Awards Programme which runs every year, the CPSI helps to unearth innovation solutions in the public sector, and also, importantly uses these tried and tested solutions to replicate and scale-up to improve service delivery.
“Our presence here today makes me particularly proud because our government is responding positively to the many challenges that our people face on daily basis. Public servants are pulling together to find interventions that respond with solutions that are reassuring of change.
“Today is a clear demonstration of how our public officials, moved by the plight of their fellow citizens have been mobilized to act decisively and relentlessly, embracing innovation as a key enabler and a game-changer in bringing improvement to the lives of the marginalized in our society,” Deputy Minister Chikunga said.
The Deputy Minister also handed over 1000 sanitary pads for girl-children donated by National Pride Company that were partners at the event.
“We are always grateful when our private sector supports the state in ensuring that our children are empowered to continue to learn without barriers. This donation reaffirms their right to human dignity. We extend our gratitude to National Pride for your generous donation,” she said.
