Du Toit says technology such as smart interactive whiteboards can empower teachers and inspire students. "I use a smart board myself and it's made an incredible difference to the way I communicate. I have also seen the impact introducing new classroom technology has had on my own children's education. If school governing bodies want to attract pupils and parents who share a high-tech vision of the future, they need to be prepared to invest in technology now."
The boards make it possible not only to show content from anywhere in the world, but also to record any teacher's lessons for later playback, says Du Toit. "That means every school can have access to the best teachers and the best lessons, no matter where they are."
The Edu Services package includes not only smart interactive whiteboards but also Internet connectivity, leading school management software and educational software. "There are many school management packages on the market but we've identified Edupac, which is locally developed, as the most comprehensive," says Du Toit.
Vox Orion has developed an innovative funding model to make Edu Services affordable to schools, adds Du Toit. "As part of the Vox Telecom group, we earn revenue whenever someone uses the Vox network to make calls or surf the Internet. For every family at a school that switches to Vox, we will divert 50% of our profits back to their school to fund their technology programme."
