THE EDUCATION DESK: Eastern Cape’s tablet programme stalls with devices lost or locked in cupboards
We contacted 12 schools and not one of them is still running the programme.
The Eastern Cape's tablet program for Grade 12 learners has stalled, with many devices either lost or left unused in school cupboards. At Mary Waters High School in Makhanda, 115 tablets purchased at the start of 2025 have remained untouched. The program aimed to distribute devices to 54,000 Grade 12 learners across the province, but only about 30% of those who received devices in 2025 have used them for schoolwork.
The Department of Education has not monitored the project since its inception 18 months ago. In August 2025, the department reported that 53,254 of the 54,000 devices had been delivered, reaching roughly half of the matric cohort.
However, 746 tablets remained owed to 41 schools, and 165 schools faced shortages. The department did not provide details on whether these tablets were ever delivered. Budgetary constraints prevented all Q3 matriculants from receiving tablets. In Makhanda, three of six eligible schools received none. The department has not disclosed criteria for school inclusion.
Of the 54,000 devices, 64% were returned by the end of 2025, leaving roughly 19,200 devices unrecovered. The department claims a retrieval strategy is in place. The shortage issue is addressed by suggesting tablet sharing, but none of the schools reached reported such practices. Incoming tablets are stored, locked, damaged, unassessed, or awaiting instructions.
The rollout involved devices from Rizzen and Huawei. Some learners reportedly bypassed security features, installing unapproved applications. Despite the central management system only allowing approved educational apps, teachers at Makhanda schools observed learners using Facebook, WhatsApp, and TikTok. Tablets at Mrwetyana Secondary School were returned, but many were damaged, leaving 44 operational devices.
At Colosa Senior Secondary School, most tablets were returned, but damaged units reduced availability for the 2026 matric class.
The department's spokesperson Mali Mtima stated that MTN, the contractor supplying both devices and data, has not received formal fault reports. However, schools described various operational issues, such as devices locking themselves, missing chargers and SIM cards, and learners removing SIM cards for personal use.
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