Lost or locked in cupboards: inside the R686-million Eastern Cape matric tablet programme
We contacted 12 schools and not one of them is still running the programme
At Mary Waters High School in Makhanda, 115 educational tablets intended for matrics were stored in a cupboard at the start of 2025. The devices were part of an Eastern Cape Department of Education (ECDoE) program that distributed devices to 54,000 grade 12 learners. However, not a single tablet was issued to any learner in 2025 due to a shortage and some malfunctioning devices.
Of the learners who received devices in 2025, only about 30% used them for schoolwork. The department has not monitored the project since its inception 18 months ago. GroundUp contacted 12 schools across the province and found that none of them were running the program as designed in 2026. The ECDoE set aside R686 million for the program, committed R447 million to devices, and the rest for a 50GB monthly MTN data allocation for each learner.
However, the department has not answered questions about whether all the tablets were delivered or if any were lost.
Written by urgent.news from GroundUp's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
