3. What are Sustainable Development
Goals?
The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development fundamentally recognizes that “the
spread of information and communication technology and global
interconnectedness has great potential to accelerate human progress, to bridge
the digital divide and to develop knowledge societies”.
ICT is helping to improve education globally, allowing students to access learning
assets and teachers to prepare for classes anytime, anywhere.24 ICT can assist in
opening up access to education for all, particularly underserved populations and
those living in remote, resource-poor areas. It also can deliver online certification
and student advisory services, in turn leading to improved economic opportunities
for all. (Ericsson ICT & SDGS Final Report, 2016)
SDG 4 targets significant improvements in the quality of, and access to, good
education across formal and more skills-based categories. The industry primarily
impacts this SDG by providing connectivity to schools and learners, giving access
to digital resources. The industry also provides educational platforms directly,
including content, and facilitates the purchase of school-related service (GSMA
Industry Report, 2016)
5. What are the Sustainable Development
Goals
• Adopted by
Head of State
in September
2015
• The SDGS
came into
force in 2016
• Negotiated
for a period
of two years
• Build up on
Millenium
Development
Goals
MGS UN
Ratification
in 2015
Assension,
2016
6. Country Policies influencing Technology
to achieve SDGS (South African Context)
National
Development
Plan, 2030
National
Broadband
Policy
eEducation
White Paper,
2004
Operation
Phakisa ICT
Lab
Major Roll out
on Paperless
classrooms
9. Government Policy & Regulatory
Framework (Cont..)
Infrastructure
•Connectivity requires high demand performance of mobile network coverage
Affordability
•Availability of mobile services and devices at a cheaper prices according to the level of
income
Consumer
Readiness
•Government should make awareness to its citizens (consumers) about the need to acquire
skills mobile technologies
11. SA Government Pilot Projects Linked to
SDG 4 & 9 eEducation(Ukufunda Virtual)
The South African Department of Basic Education in partnership with the UNICEF, and
the Reach Trust came up with its first innovative initiative on m-learning service known
as The UkuFUNda Virtual School.
It’s a portal application that is enabled by social networking platform (MixIt) for the
provision of content and learning resources for both teachers and pupils. These
materials can be accessed while using mobile devices.
The platform is stored in the server which is enabled by the SQL database comprised of
applications that supports technology deployment. It provides applications accessible in
three ways: a learner view, a teacher view and parent view.
The advantage of the UVS is that; it gave access and support to more than 800 mobile
devices (traditional and smartphones) and penetrate rural areas that are covered by
the 2G network.
12. SA Government Pilot Projects Linked to SDG 4
& 9 eEducation (ICT4RED Initiative)
The ICT4RED initiative is project commissioned by the Department of Science
and Technology (DST) and entrusts Council for Scientific and Industrial
Research (CSIR) to undertake the research.
The primary objective of this initiative is to conduct evidence-based research
and provide support to rural educators by integrating tablet in teaching
mathematics and science in schools within Cofimvaba in the Nciba District,
Eastern Cape Province.
The focus of this initiative is aimed at collaborating with different
stakeholders such as Department of Basic Education, Department of Science
and Technology and the Department of Rural Development and the Eastern
Department of Education to ensure continued improvement of quality of
learning and teaching to achieve sustainability of the education system in the
Nciba District and ultimately the whole province.
13. SA Government Pilot Projects Linked to SDG 4
& 9 eEducation (ICT4RED Initiative) Cont…
The scope of this initiative categorically focused on the provision of tablet
devices to educators, learners and district officials towards 26 schools that
falls within the Nciba Circuit in the Cofimvaba District.
The project covered 6 500 pupils 350 educators and 16 District officials.
Various models such as change management, content, devices, integration
into the school were formulated to enhance learner educational performance
in the respective Circuit.
The ICT4D initiative remains a challenge in the South African context in that
the is a lack of network coverage in some areas where the pilot project is
conducted. Industry players need to intervene by investing network
infrastructure in the rural areas in order to achieve the SDGs.
14. Mobile Industry SDG Impact
Three years since the SDGs were adopted by UN member states, the mobile
industry is driving significant impact, especially for SDG 9: Industry,
Innovation and Infrastructure, which has the highest impact score at 51.
This SDG – which is focused on building resilient infrastructure, inclusive and
sustainable industrialisation and fostering innovation – recognizes the critical
role that mobile networks play.
For example, one of the targets (9.c.) aims to significantly increase access to
ICT, especially mobile, and to provide universal and affordable access to the
internet in least developed countries by 2020.
In 2017, more than 5 billion people across the world (or two thirds of the
population) were using a mobile phone, while more than 7 billion people
(around 95% of the population) were covered by a mobile network.
16. Conclusion
The The values of internet and broadband can be achieved by providing
access in the areas that will benefit the social and economic growth of the
country. SDGS and ICT4D can be realized by seizing the digital opportunities
offered by these technologies.
Availability of spectrum and investment in infrastructure by the mobile
industry players in south Africa can accelerate the achievement of SDGs.
Connectivity is the basic integral part of the broadband connectivity in South
Africa and serves as the enabler for success of social and economic growth of
the country. It can also transform rural areas regarding the pilot project that
focuses on e-education and e-health and thus expand digital dividends.
17. References
Ericsson.(2016). ICT & SDGS - How Information and Communications Technology
can Accelerate Action on the Sustainable Development Goals (Online). Accessed 19
October 2018. retrieved from http://unsdsn.org/resources/publications/ict-and-
sdgs/
GSMA. (2016). Mobile Industry Impact Report: Sustainable Development Goals
(Online). Accessed on 19 October 2018 retrieved from
https://www.gsma.com/betterfuture/wp-
content/uploads/2016/09/_UN_SDG_Report_FULL_R1_WEB_Singles_LOW.pdf
UN.( 2012). Transforming Our World: The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable
Development Goals: Geneva, United Nations. Retrieved from
https://sustainabledevelopment.un.org/content/documents/21252030%20Agenda
%20for%20Sustainable%20Development%20web.pdf
Presidency. (2011, November 11). National Development Plan: 2030. Pretoria: The
Presidency. Available at
https://www.gov.za/sites/www.gov.za/files/devplan_2.pdf
18. References Cont..
Roberts, N. Spencer-Smith, G & Butcher, N (Eds). (2016). An implementation
evaluation of the Ukufunda Virtual School. Pretoria, South Africa: Kellelo
Consulting
Herselman, M, & Botha, A (Eds.). (2014). Designing and implementing an
Information Communication Technology for Rural Education Development
(ICT4RED) initiative in a resource constraint environment: Nciba school
district, Eastern Cape, South Africa. Pretoria, South Africa: CSIR Meraka.
Retrieved from
https://researchspace.csir.co.za/dspace/bitstream/handle/10204/8094/Hers
elman_2014.pdf?sequence=1&isAllowed=y
GSMA. (2018). Mobile Industry Impact Report: Sustainable Development Goals
(Online). Accessed on 19 October 2018 retrieved from
https://www.gsmaintelligence.com/research/?file=ecf0a523bfb1c9841147a33
5cac9f6a7&download
