SA, Scottish pupils link up on Net

JOHANNESBURG -- Learners from here went to school in Scotland on Wednesday while Scottish pupils attended class in this city -- and nobody had to fly halfway around the world to do it.

Using the magic of the Internet, four Soweto schools linked up with four Scottish schools and the UK Minister of Education, Europe and External Affairs, Jack McConnell, to exchange views on their lifestyles and school experiences.

The link-up, launched at the Glasgow Science Centre, formed part of the Scotland leg of President Thabo Mbeki's state visit to Britain this week. The launch was officially opened by Education Minister Kader Asmal and McConnell.

McConnell said it was good that the British could include so many South African children in the visit even if it was via an Internet link-up rather than in person.

"I hope the Internet initiative grows and grows so that many more children get the chance to speak to each other across the world," he said.

Four links were established between Realogile Secondary School in Alexandra and Shawlands Academy in Glasgow; Emshukantambo Secondary School in Pimville, Soweto, and Boclair Academy in East Dunbartonshire; Winniegwekazi Primary School in Pimville and Liberton Primary School in Edinburgh; and Khuthala Primary School in Protea, Soweto, and Balivanich Primary School on the island of Benbecula.

They are similar to a link between the Douglas Combined School in the Northern Cape with Alva Academy in Clackmannanshire in the UK.

Paul Johnson, director of communications for the British Council, which co-ordinates arts and cultural, sport and educational relations between South Africa and the UK, said: "The launch of school links between the UK and South African schools will allow both groups to come in direct contact with each other at all levels.

"The programme will also benefit teachers because they can exchange methods."

The schools in each country had a list of issues to talk about. These included lifestyles, subjects they learned at school, what school was like in the UK and in South Africa, uniforms and discipline.

A Grade 12 learner from Emshukantambo Secondary School, Valencia Khoza, 20, said: "I was speaking to a girl named Shauna from a school called the Boclair Academy. It was very nice.

"I learned a lot about her and she learned a lot about me. I am excited about the programme."

The principal of Khuthala Primary School, Mzwabantu Madikane, said a programme had been put in place so that all the school's learners could benefit from the project. -- DDC