Innovative approach to school management launched
Kgatelopele Technologies, one of the companies participating in the pre-incubation programme at The Innovation Hub, recently launched their Open-Source School Management System pilot project at The Innovation Hub in Pretoria.
The aim of the launch was to create excitement and enthusiasm about the project among the stakeholders and member of the open-source community. Dr Bob Day, ICT Executive Director at UNISA, gave a keynote address.
The project resulted from initial efforts of the Shuttleworth Foundation to develop an open-source school management system that would cater specifically for the needs of schools in Africa. When the project was put on hold, an advocacy group consisting of stakeholders in the education sector in Africa was formed. This was followed by the formation of a consortium to develop an open-source school management system, consisting of Kgatelopele Technologies, CSIR Icomtek, Wits Computer School and Netday, at the Department For International Development (DFID), as the initial funders of the project.
The pilot project involves seven schools from Gauteng and the North West province that are using the e-SchoolMan, the system developed by Kgatelopele Technologies. The consortium will use feedback from the pilot schools and additional research from the relevant stakeholders to develop the new system, with a new name, by the end of July this year.
From left is Sipho Hlengane from Gatang High School in Mamelodi, Ezekiel Motlana of Kgatelopele [seated], Tebogo Pelo of Naledi 3D, Maredi Saofo from Japhta Mahlangu High School and Moses Maudu of J Kekana High School.
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Open-source technology will change the face of school administration in Africa by making it possible for schools with limited resources to access, at no cost, state-of-the-art multi-platform software that can be customised to suit the specific needs of the school.
Contact
Thabo Mogashwa, Kgatelopele Technologies
Tel: [012] 349 0404
E-mail: thabo@kgatelopele.co.za
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