What policy changes can be made to accelerate an information society in
Inanda?
Ayanda Siphesihle Ngcobo
210507469
Honours Degree in Public Policy, University of KwaZulu-Natal: Howard College-Campus
Research Paper 2013
Supervisor: Belinda Johnson
Abstract
Inanda is a historical township rich in history and heritage but sadly, there are still issues of
development, uneducated young people. This research aims to find out the level of ICT literacy
amongst the young people of Inanda, if they sufficient community information centres such as
libraries that enable them to function as an information society.
The main theories that motivated this research are Grindle’s theory on policy analysis, Elmore’s
model on implementation as organisational development and the bottom-up approach as the
preferred approach of implementation. They all emphasise that the community is an important
stakeholder in policy making and policy implementation process.
Literature indicates that an information society is well informed about development issues, ICT is the
key tool for an information society and is a catalyst for local development. There has also been
successful implementation of ICT initiatives in under developed areas such as Inanda.
This research will indicate that the local library cannot provide for the whole of Inanda, surveys were
conducted on the young people of Inanda Newtown A which revealed that they do not use the local
library. This is because there is a huge distant between area like Inanda Newtown A and Inanda
Glebe and Ohlange (where the library is located) which was indicated by the librarian of InandaOhlange Library. It is therefore not easy for them to visit the library on a daily basis. The library is
also not big enough to cover the whole area of Inanda. Interviews were also conducted on educators
of computer related studies, which indicated what kind of skills the young people are taught at
school level.
CHAPTER ONE: BACKGROUND AND INTRODUCTION
1.1 Introduction
This research paper is based on a study that was conducted in Inanda on accelerating the
information society.There is a great need for an information society in Inanda as it is one of
the Historical Townships which still has informal settlements and low skilled individuals.
This research will look at policies that can be applicable to Inanda to implement Information
Communication Technology (ICT) for local development.
This paper will discuss the level of ICT literacy and use of local information centres amongst
the young people of Inanda Newtown A. This paper will also discuss whether the local
information centres are well equipped to accelerate the information society of Inanda, if they
are providing sufficient services. This information was gathered through conducting surveys
on the young people of Inanda Newtown A and interviews on individuals working in
information centres.
This research will take on both exploratory and descriptive approach; it will look at the
present picture of what is happening in Inanda in terms of the subject under study. It will
describe the level of ICT amongst the young people of Inanda. It will explain what about
young people of Inanda is being studied, which is the level of ICT literacy. Since there is not
much done on information society in Inanda, this research will explore the importance of an
information society and the use of ICT for Inanda as a historical township. The findings of
this study can be useful for future development projects to make the appropriate policy
changes to accelerate an information society. It will be the first to demonstrate the level of
ICT literacy in Inanda. And there is not much research on ICT and information society that
focuses on the young people in particular. This knowledge will contribute in developing
policies and making the appropriate policy changes to address this issue. This research will
describe the current level of ICT amongst the young people of Inanda which is important in
building an information society, it is important to look at the current situation, if the
population studied have the skills that an information society acquires. This research will
explore ICT, information society and the current position of Inanda in that area. Young
people are of particular interest because they still have the chance learn these skills; they are
more likely to understand technology better than the older generation. Understanding the
current situation is useful for future development
The results of this study will indicate whether the young people of Inanda are ICT literate,
consider the importance of being ICT literate, if they have access to ICT facilities. This will
be useful in determining what can be done to accelerate the information society of Inanda
through the current situation of Inanda in terms of this subject.
1.2 Definition of key terms
a) ICT (information and communications technology - or technologies) is an umbrella term
that includes any communication device or application, encompassing: radio, television,
cellular phones, computer and network hardware and software, satellite systems and so on, as
well as the various services and applications associated with them, such as videoconferencing
and distance learning.” (Rousse; 2005). The definition of ICT may be about the use of
advanced technology but ICT is also about using these technologies to access valuable
information. An example of this may be the use of internet between the community and
policy makers to communicate on a certain policy that is in progress, the community may be
informed on the progress, what steps are to be taken and how can the community benefit
from and be part of community projects.
b) According to Rousse (2005) an information society is a society in which creation,
distribution and manifesting of information has become significant in economic and
cultural activity. An information society is the kind of society that is ICT literate which
means it can access and share information electronically. They can use the computer,
internet programmes to access information that can be able to develop them.
c) “Digital libraries are advanced forms of information systems because they often involve
collaboration support, digital document preservation, distributed database management,
hypertext, information filtering, information retrieval, instructional modules, intellectual
property rights management, multimedia information services, question answering and
reference services, resource discovery, and selective dissemination of information.” (Fox
&Marchionini; 1998, 29). Digital libraries help to preserve information, and also make it
accessible. An example of a digital library can be the UKZN libraries as they provide
information digitally, where you can search the available resources in the library
buildings digitally on the site.
d) “Internet Service Provider (ISP) is a company that provides individuals and other
companies, access to the internet and other related services such as Web site building…
An ISP has equipment and the telecommunication line access…” (Rouse; 2006).
e) “Internet Service Provider (ISP) is a company that provides individuals and other
companies, access to the internet and other related services such as Web site building…
An ISP has equipment and the telecommunication line access…” (Rouse; 2006).
f) “Local Area Networks (LANS) supplies networking capability to a group of computers
in close proximity to each other such as in an office building, a school, or a home. A
LAN is useful for sharing resources like files, printers, games or other applications.”
(Mitchell). We need LANS in community centres to accelerate an information society.
1.3 Brief Background of ICT in South Africa
South Africa is a developing country; information technology (IT) comes from the developed
world. South Africa has been exposed to the developed world but there needs to be more
work done. Literature indicates that South Africa started to adopt IT in the 1900s but
businesses and government use such information systems more effectively than South
African members of the community.
According to Lesame&Tenene (2012), South Africa had its first ISPs and dial-up internet
connectivity in 1993 and had website development with the expansion of LANS in the mid1990s. In 2007, government approved the building of an information society (South African
Government Gazette No. 32578, 2009:7) and according to Lesame (2012) government
approved this based on the United Nations’ World Summit on the information society which
emphasized the importance of information access, communication and infrastructure as a
foundation of development of an information society.
Looking at the historical context of ICT in South Africa, there is an indication that the
government does see the need of ICT in the country but has been slow on implementing it the
lives of ordinary citizens.
1.4 Policy Perspectives on ICT
The implementation of ICT should be guided by policies, it is important to develop such
initiatives with guidance of important policies related to the field. The local people should
also be aware of policies attached to the development projects. One will discuss the
telecommunication policy, the broadband policy and the Electronic Communication Act of
2002.
According to Lesame (2012) the Telecommunication Policy is one of government’s attempts
to provide access to telecommunication services to ensure access to ICT, promote
democratisation of society, address slow growth through public tele-centres. Telkom is a
major supplier of telecommunication services in the country, providing services such as faxlines. Katz (2004) argues that telecommunication has showed great progress and there are
social and economic values of this information flow and there is a need for greater
understanding of telecommunication for lawmakers, the media and the public. Neto argues
that telephones have a large impact on aggregate output. Incorporating telephones use and
computer skills is important and the telecommunication policy outlines the use of
telecommunication for accessing and sharing important information in an information society
and it can be used as guidance.
The National Broadband Policy of South Africa is about building an information society, the
sharing and availability of information thus promoting the culture of learning. The Broadband
Policy is about promoting information access, sharing of information, including the use of
digital forms of accessing information. Broadband services are accessible, fast and clarify the
roles of government, state owned enterprises and the private sector in developing Broadband
infrastructure in the country (Government Gazette, No. 33363 of 9 July 2010). It is useful for
the public to have access to information, the public is also encouraged to learn more and
share information which can develop society. This content will be used by citizens to access
and interact with government (Government Gazette No. 33363 of 9 July 2010). It can also be
useful for the people to communicate with government; service delivery can be improved so
it is useful in different areas. “Broadband policies are particularly focused on underserved
and underserved areas, Broadband may also offer benefits not fully captured in measures of
output, employment, or growth. People use broadband for a wide range of activities,
including many such as; sharing pictures with friends or downloading music that might not
fulfil a public policy goal, even though people value these activities.” (Kolko; 2010, 21). The
author outlines some of the short comes of the Broadband, which may indicate that, people
need to be guided on the efficient use of the Broadband. When implementing such policies,
people should not just be provided with the services but require proper guidance on how to
use the services, how they can make it useful for development. It is not useful to just have
something but what you do with it is the important part. However, Kolko’s (2010) overall
findings indicated that local development, including employment appeared more in areas that
adopted the Broadband policy and make use of ICT.
The Electronic Communication and Transaction Act of 2002 is one of the policies which may
guide an information society but has not been widely implemented in the country. The
objectives of this Act includes enabling and facilitating electronic communication and
transaction in the public interest for the purpose of recognising the importance of an
information society for economic and social prosperity, promote universal access primarily in
underserved areas (Government Gazette, Vol.446, No.23708; 2 August 2002). This policy
may be applied in communities such as Inanda as it can be considered as an underserved
community. It also aims to promote e-government services, electronic communication and
monitor the National e-strategy developed to determine all matters involving e-government
services, human resource development, SMMEs, promote the Republic as a preferred
provider and user of electronic transactions in the international market information
technology (Government Gazette, Vol.446, No.23708; 2 August 2002). The use of ICT
makes it easier for the country to communicate with other countries. This policy outlines
government strategies on accelerating an information society but slacking on the application
side.
In South Africa, ICT is growing but at business and government levels, it needs to grow at
community level. Policies should be implemented at community level, for them to be
effective, community members ,may also lack access to policies but through following or
incorporating ICT related policies, people will have better access to such information and
they can be practised more effectively.
1.5 Research aims
This research is aimed at finding out if the young people of Inanda have sufficient ICT
facilities and skills for them to function as an information society. In finding that out, it will
make it clear to understand what needs to be done to accelerate an information society in
Inanda. The aims of this study also includes finding out if the people of Inanda recognise the
value of ICT for local development (searching for employment, gain skills that would make
them competent, easier access to services and communication with government). The
findings of this study will be able to demonstrate the current situation of Inanda and therefore
answer the research question.
1.6 Broad Issues investigated
Broad Issue, No.1:
The first broad issue was finding out what people use computers for, how do they make use
of computer programmes. This included finding out if people knew about programmes such
as e-government. This also includes the problem of people seeing the need to being ICT
literate, how much do they know about the benefits of ICT.
Broad Issue, No.2:
The second broad issue was finding out how many people use computers (not the exact
number as the population is very wide). This entails finding out if the people have previously
received computer training, their level of computer familiarity.
Broad Issue, No. 3:
The third broad issue was looking at the main information centres of Inanda, the level of
community use and what people usually use these for. The focus area includes finding out if
people can use computers or if the centres do have sufficient computers for community use
1.7 Broad Questions
Key Question, No. 1:
Does the community know how to use computer services effectively to access important
information?
Key Question, No.2:
What is the current ICT position in Inanda, what is the level of ICT literacy?
Key Question No.3:
Are the young people of Inanda making use of local services, do they have facilities that can
enable the functioning of an information society?
CHAPTER 2: LITERATURE REVIEW
Introduction
This section will discuss previous research that has been done in this topic, their findings and
how they are related to this study. This section will also discuss the research gap, how this
study will contribute to knowledge and the reasons for choosing this topic.
In the process of constructing this literature review, one had to look at the different factors
that contribute in building an information society. One had to search for previous research
conducted on ICT and the information society, looked for the use of ICT in communities
which has socio-economic issues which are similar to Inanda and the current position of
South African government in the area of information access and electronic communications
issues. It seems like the South African government supports the development of an
information society on paper but there seems to lack on implementing projects that can
accelerate an information society. It entailed looking at journals, articles, the government
reports and policies.
One was able to come up with themes that best describe this research, which are; the
information society, ICT for development, the implementation of ICT initiatives and digital
libraries.
The Information Society
Literature seems to raise arguments that agree that an information society is essential for local
development thus pointing out the importance of ICT literacy on the local communities. The
information society can be competence in the working environment; they are ahead with
current issues and able to achieve development in a faster pace.
According to Berte& Bjornson’s research on Universal Access to an Advanced Information
Infrastructure, information access enhances society’s ability to communicate. Using this
approach makes it easier to make information available to the members of community instead
of regular meetings where certain voices over power the marginalised, certain concerns are
not addressed or brought forth. Using ICT programmes, information on community projects
can simply be available digitally and the public could contribute. Berte&Bojrnoson’s findings
show that if more people are on the internet, more people can be reached, more content is
available and computer-based communication gives more accurate information on political
matters, professional and organisational concerns. Lesame&Tenene (2012) argued that since
the majority of South African citizens don’t have university education and some are illiterate,
the government should work towards ensuring that members of the community have ICT
skills required to function in an information society and work towards achieving socioeconomic development. Having an information society in Inanda, which one can classify as a
community that is underserved, it can help people have better access to the local economy as
it seems like individuals with computer skills are more competent and it can help people
communicate more effectively with their government.
In an information society, individuals not only have access to advanced information
structures but also know how to use them effectively. An information society is essential for
Inanda to develop the people, improve their communication channels, and address issues of
service delivery, education, information access and information sharing. Using ICT
effectively is also a concern.
ICT for Local Development
There is a strong emphasis on the importance of ICT for local development; studies indicate
that ICT can accelerate local development. One would like to outline the relationship between
ICT and local development
Sharma (2007) conducted a study in India based on a local hospital on the use of ICT in poor
communities. This study mainly aimed at showing how the use of ICT has the ability to
improve public service delivery. The study indicated that before ICT was implemented for
the hospital services, people lacked communication channels; they were not aware of some of
the hospital services and did not have a good relationship with the staff members. Sharma
(2007) studied the awareness that the local people have on the services that the hospital
provides. In Sharma’s study (2007) an ICT programme was implemented but before it was
implemented people were asked about what do they think about the services and the staff of
the clinic and their responses showed that the community did not have a good relationship
with the hospital staff. After the ICT programme was implemented, the results indicated that
there was better communication, people made better use of the hospital services. This study
indicates that ICT is catalyst for local development but the local people must understand how
they can benefit from such initiatives. Sharma's study relates to this study as it indicated the
positives that came out of the implementation of ICT. Sharma focused on the local people, he
first got their views which is important and made it easier for them to accept and make use of
ICT. I would say that these people can constitute as an information society, Sharma's study
was able to show what needs to be done in order to find the appropriate policy changes to
accelerate the information society of India (around the studied hospital). Marshall argued
(2005) argued that ICT increases overall wellbeing of through community development;
promoting political accountability, improving basic service delivery and enhances local
development opportunities.
Jere (2011) conducted a study on the deployment of ICT to rural KZN communities. The
main objectives of his study were finding out how ICT was deployed in rural KZN, he looked
mainly at the infrastructure as it is important in deploying of ICT. And the study was
conducted in rural KZN. The main findings of Jere's study (2011) suggest that sustainability
of ICT initiatives is essential for deploying technology. The findings of this study also
indicated that the community did not have access to the relevant content. Jere (2011) argued
that his findings indicated the need for a bottom-up approach as it ensures that the community
members are made part of the development process thus increasing ownership of the
initiative. Advanced technology access means that people can interact with the outside
environment which encouraging the exchanging of ideas with other communities and people
can be aware on employment opportunities in the broader job market. Outside expertise may
also assist in speeding development. Jere's research is linked to my research as it was also
conducted in KZN on the same subject; it helped to find the main area that I need to focus on
when looking at ICT implementation. Inanda is a historical township which consists of under
developed areas and informal settlements, rural KZN may be similar in a sense that rural
KZN may also be under development and ICT may be used to speed up community
development projects.
Sehlapelo (2010) conducted research on the information society in Limpopo where ICT
programmes were introduced. The main objectives included looking at what was then been
done to build an information society and percentage of individuals who believe that ICT
could assist in achieving the development goals. Sehlapelo’s results (2010) indicated that
96.3% of the population believed that ICT could assist in achieving development goals but
25.9% could not identify a single ICT project and 81.5% listed the less than two projects.
There might not be enough awareness amongst the local people on the project but it is
important to note that the people do recognise the role of ICT in development and so they
will be likely to take part in ICT initiatives. It is positive feedback that people are for ICT
even though there are only a few ICT projects identified. My study looks at policy changes
that can be incorporated to accelerate an information society which is closely relate to
Sehlapelo's study as it looked at the current situation, I will also look at the current situation
at Inanda, what kind of services the local young people are exposed to.
ICT can add positive light to lives of the people of Inanda as literature shows that ICT is an
important tool in achieving development to the local people. ICT can also bring government
closer to the people; they can be able to communicate better with the government using
computer programmes.
Implementation of ICT
A policy may be good on paper but implementation is the most important part that determines
how good a policy is or how effective it is. South Africa has a number of policies that a good
on paper but there seems to be a problem with the implementation process. Inanda may be
one of the underserved areas; this may be due to lack of effective policy implementation.
In implementing an ICT project, the first problem would be that local libraries and
information centres are not well equipped for ICT programmes and the community may have
low skills and that may slow down the roll out of the programme (Greyling& Zulu; 2010).
Berte&Bjnoson argue that if the country does not get people online, social problems will
increase and government needs to support community centres such as libraries, schools and
formal community centres. As government is in support of building of an information
society, this support can be shown through developing libraries, schools and other community
centres. Greyling& Zulu (2010) also noted that a need for intensive training with repetitive
follow-up workshops and training in small groups is effective and there needs to be trained
staff with the skills to facilitate ICT development. This will also relates to the need to put a
person in the right positions, which means an individual has to have the appropriate
qualification to fill in a particular position.
Marketing a project is important to create awareness on that project amongst the public, for
individuals to take part in the project. Greyling& Zulu (2010) argue that the best way to
promote projects is through presentations to small groups and one-on-one discourse with
potential stakeholders as marketing can be time-consuming. This can help people learn about
the project, how it can benefit them and how to use facilities effectively. It is useless to plan a
project for the community without including them or creating awareness about the project.
In Kenya ICT was implemented to facilitate local development, and studies show that there
were challenges in implementing ICT as challenges may arise in any project being
implemented. In Kenya, foreign funding is the largest and government provide technical
support and also support with staff and facilities including buildings but there is lack of
policies and plans to guide investment (Gichoya; 2005). According to Gichoya (2005) for
success to be achieved there needs to be a vision and strategy, government support, external
support and donor support could be very useful. Gichoya (2005) also outlined factors that
may lead to failure of a project which are; poor infrastructure, lack of finance and skilled
personnel and the attitudes of individuals towards the project. Gichoya also proposed that
effective project coordination, management and good practice are factors that can enable a
project to be successful. This study seems to show that there are many factors that need to be
considered when implementing ICT, and there is a possibility of successful implementation if
the success factors and coordinated with the enablers. Training is important for people to
acquire the appropriate skills and individuals with the sufficient skills are important in
facilitating the implementation of a project.
A bottom-up approach can be effective for this kind of project; this approach stresses the
need for consultation with community members, policy- makers need to include community
members in decision making. If people have an input in the community project, they are more
likely to support the project and it will be more successful with the support of the community.
Gumucio-Dragon (in Jere; 2011) argues that as long as the community does not readily
accept innovation, a project may fail, and Maleka (in Jere; 2011) supports this argument by
stating that if the benefiting community is not interested in the new initiative, its
sustainability is not guaranteed. Using the bottom-up approach could ensure that the
community is part of the project; they are participating and effectively benefiting from the
project. Jere (2011) suggests that government should implements a bottom-up approach to
policy formulation and the deployment of technology initiatives thus ensuring that the
initiatives take into account the needs of the community.
There needs to be cooperation between the involved stakeholders for successful
implementation. Stakeholders may include; government, the community and technology
implementers or technology experts. The community seem to be a major stakeholder and
therefore needs to be included in implementing the project.
Digital libraries
Digital libraries are an important component for the information society and ensure effective
use of ICT. Digital libraries may also be useful at school-level education as ICT is also useful
at school-level.
Greyling& Zulu conducted a study based on libraries in an African context, where they
studied how indigenous knowledge shaped the local libraries and how ICT can change access
and sharing of indigenous knowledge through digital libraries. Greyling& Zulu argue that
libraries, in an African context have a role in growing knowledge and information and also
ensure easy access. Indigenous knowledge is also important in building a community
information centre and libraries are mostly used by young people, they can learn a lot from
indigenous knowledge. Technology needs to be incorporated in the local libraries, which is
core significant to the information society. Greyling& Zulu argue that the revolution of ICT
has presented opportunities for institutions to change. This change may be to move towards
digitalising information, making it available to a wider audience. Digitalising information
also helps in storage, information can be stored continuously, even if the physical document
is destroyed for some reason, the digital document may still be available.
The Milnerton Library is government owned as situated in the Western Cape, it has
computers, scanning facilities, it caters for school-learners, SMME’s (Small, Medium, Macro
Enterprises), and the community as a whole as a result of this community centre, many
business corners have been established (Arellona, Chigano, Moore & Van Belle). The staff is
well quipped to facilitate such services (Arellonia, Chigano, Moore & Van Belle). This is an
example of a digital library in South Africa which successfully implemented ICT
programmes.
Digital libraries can assist learners in familiarising themselves with ICT but also assist the
community with easy access to information. They can make learning easy for learners, as ICT
will not only be implemented at school but also at home. Benefits of digital libraries go
beyond school-level education but can incorporate indigenous knowledge.
Research gap
Literature focus on ICT for rural development not considering that townships may also be
underserved. And implementing ICT in townships can be less challenging than implementing
ICT in rural areas, in terms of infrastructure, in townships you may find that infrastructure
may be there but needs to be upgraded.
There is lack of research on how much people lack information on policies that can build an
information society and opportunities they can expose themselves by taking advantage of
ICT.
There is lack of ICT initiatives in historical townships such as Inanda, what ICT can do for
these communities.
Studies do not focus on how educating young people on ICT will effectively benefit the
community at large. That is important for the future of the community, in building citizens
which are knowledgeable and up to date with current issues.
Reasons for choosing topic
a) Importance of the Research
Inanda is a historical township that has a large number of uneducated young people (no
tertiary education), a population living below the poverty line and a number of informal
settlements. As a historical township, it has a range of information that can be shared
amongst the community that people can learn from, and be uplifted to improve their lives. It
is important to build an information society in Inanda not just for the learning of history and
heritage but for developing the community.
According to Marshall (2005) ICT (Information and Communication Technology) can
increase the overall wellbeing through community development, promoting political
accountability, improving the delivery for basic services and enhancing local development
opportunities. And digital libraries are widely used as information source today; they make it
easy to access information and also sharing information.
This research will find out if the young people of Inanda Newtown A are making use of local
information services, and look at policy changes that can be incorporated towards reaching
this goal of making people ICT literate. Finding the current situation will show the main
issues that need to be addressed to tackle the problem. One will also look at the institutions
that have computers such as libraries and local schools, so I will be targeting young people as
they are the future. The main focus would be on why the community need to acquire ICT
skills, where and how can they acquire these skills and also the current situation, what is the
level of ICT literacy.
This research is important in encouraging the sharing of information to develop the
community and also showing ways in which the community can also communicate better
with government. Encouraging the culture of learning, accessing information is a catalyst for
development and wellbeing of the people. It may also look at institutions of Inanda that can
be useful sources of information, which role they can play in developing the community.
This research is important for policy makers to identify the key areas that need to be address
and come up with the appropriate policy changes. The policy changes should help young
people to acquire the necessary skills to accelerate an information society and move towards
development.
b)Contribution to knowledge
As this research will explore policies that can be incorporated for the development and
expansion of an information society. It will look at local libraries and how they provide
support for an information society. It will add knowledge on policies that can develop the
community through information access and sharing of information. It will also outline the
importance of information sources that provide information to the community; these include
museums and libraries which provide trusted information.
This study is unique as it focuses on the building of an information society and the role of
digital libraries. Previous research on Inanda tends to focus on the historical and political
importance of Inanda. This study will also look at how the above mentioned topics can
develop the community and how the community with such knowledge can easily
communicate with government and acquire development.
It does not only look at the past and the present state of Inanda but also on how the future of
Inanda could be if the community is ICT literate, make use of digital libraries and are
uplifted. How being informed can develop people and be beneficial to the people and assist
government to deliver. The government can learn on what services are needed most by the
people, this can save government from coming with policies that fail.
It will show that modern forms of communication and information can still be used to
promote the culture of learning. Show that digitalising information ensures that it is not lost
but is continuously accessible.
This research will show how much young people know about the use of ICT and computers.
This is important in providing information on how much the local young people know about
ICT and the use of computers and their general understanding. This will research outline to
policy makers on issues that need to be addressed, what needs to be done to develop
communities, what kind of skills do young people need in order to increase their chances of
employment and broaden their knowledge.
c) Personal Motivation
I myself, am from Inanda, I was born and grew up in Inanda and still residing there. The
people lack access to information, they lack resources and development is at a very slow
pace. There is generally low ICT literacy in Inanda, there are perceptions that residents do not
all see the value in ICT literacy, there is a challenge in where one can find the training and
there is also a perception that ICT skills are becoming essential when applying for a job. This
makes one realise that while people are still not familiar with the use of computers, the
internet to access and share information, development is still far from Inanda. What I have
observed in my community motivated me to choose this topic that will indicate the issues that
affect the young people of my community.
This topic was chosen because I identified a problem in my community, I noticed that young
people do not have adequate skills to get secure employment. Even though they are not well
educated, being ICT literate could be the beginning and they can get exposed to other
opportunities. I assumed that young people of Inanda are not employed and empowered
because they are not ICT literate, this research will help me see if my assumptions are true
and to what extent.
CHAPTER 3: Theoretical Framework
Introduction
This section will discuss the principle theories or concepts that motivate this research, it will
discuss the main ideas behind them, what they emphasis and also how they relate to this
topic. They are; Grindle’s theory on policy analysis, Elmore’s model on policy
implementation and the bottom-up approach of implementation.
This research is motivated by Grindle’s theory on policy analysis which looks at policy
making and implementation. It is also motivated by the bottom-up approach of
implementation as it is linked to Grindle’s theory on citizen-centred policy making; this
approach proposes that implementation is to be at community level.
Grindle’s theory is based on policy making and implementation that is at community level. It
emphasises the importance of including and consulting with society in policy making. It puts
great emphasis on policy based on society issues rather than authorities making decisions on
their own. Grindle (1999) argues that policy is frequently approved without the intent of it
into practice which can cause problems or conflict. Grindle (1999) states that conflict can be
resolved through negotiation and a society-centric approach in decision making with regards
to public policies. Grindle also talks about the concept of comparative initialisation, in which
she focuses analytic attention on processes and invites a broad range of issues and questions.
According to Grindle (1999) the outcomes of comparative initialisation have the ability to
reconstruct, describe and analyse what has happened and emphasize pressure for change
located in social groups and movements rather than the state.
This research will look at ICT as an essential tool for an information society thus
supplementing projects on local development. This research focuses on the local community;
young people in particular as they are the future leaders thus investing in young people can
ensure a better future. Grindle’s theory is based on analysing the policy and its
implementation. In order to implement a policy, it is important to know how it will be of
benefit to the people, looking at Grindle’s theory I will like to find out what the people need
for an information society to be built thus making it citizen-centric as I ask the citizens
questions. Asking them questions indicates that they are important for policy changes. For a
public policy to be a success, it is important to work closely with the people. Those that will
be involved in this research are the people, to make this citizen-centric. Grindle’s theory
applies of this research as it considers the community, Grindle also emphasises the
importance of improving the policy process through consulting with society and asking their
issues into consideration. Grindle’s theory on comparative institutionalisation emphasises that
the actors involved in policy making to be social groups and movements. These social groups
are the community members; young people of Inanda may form these groups in the
implementation of ICT policies.
Elmore's model 3: Implementation as organisational development
According to Elmore (1998), all public policies are implemented by large public
organisations. Elmore (1998) outlined four models of implementation but I will discuss one
of those four models which is; Implementation as organisational development as it applies to
this research. Under this model, Elmore (1998) argues that organisations should function to
satisy the basic psychological and social needs of individuals, they should maximize
individual control, participation and commitment at all levels. In this way, policies are
designed to benefit individuals; they are to work together in order to develop the organisation
as a whole. It is therefore important that policies on accelerating an information society are
designed or implemented, needs of the young people (who are to benefit) are to be
considered. These needs can range from infrastructure to instructors that will train young
people on the effective use of ICT. ICT should be used for organisational development; in
this case the organisation is the community
A bottom-up approach can be effective for this kind of project; this approach stresses the
need for consultation with community members, policy- makers need to include community
members in decision making. If people have an input in the community project, they are more
likely to support the project and it will be more successful with the support of the community.
Gumucio-Dragon (in Jere; 2011) argues that as long as the community does not readily
accept innovation, a project may fail, and Maleka (in Jere; 2011) supports this argument by
stating that if the benefiting community is not interested in the new initiative, its
sustainability is not guaranteed. Using the bottom-up approach could ensure that the
community is part of the project; they are participating and effectively benefiting from the
project. Jere (2011) suggests that government should implements a bottom-up approach to
policy formulation and the deployment of technology initiatives thus ensuring that the
initiatives take into account the needs of the community.
This approach can instil the community’s trust in government as policy decisions are at
community level. This approach is important for communities such as Inanda to ensure
effective policy implementation.
This theoretical framework has emphasised the importance of communities in the policy
process. Communities are to have an input in the main issues that policies should address and
should be part of the implementation process for the project being implemented, to be
successful.
CHAPTER FOUR: RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
Introduction
This search will discuss the research methods that were used for this research, the sample
(interview and survey sample), why they were chosen the type of questions that they were
asked and the data collection techniques that were used.
This research made use of mixed methodology, which means, it used both qualitative and
quantitative research methodologies. This allowed one to obtain quantifiable data from the
young people of the community and in depths responses from the community service
providers.
The qualitative methodology is grounded in the interpretive social sciences, based on textual
representation of the phenomenon under study (Jennings& Gayle; 2010). This research
methodology assisted one in obtaining in-depth responses from individuals about ICT. They
were able to explain the kind of services that they provide to young people of the community,
which can be useful to get better ways or strategies on implementing ICT initiatives. It will
also be useful to demonstrate that the community does need ICT for development. This
methodology is important for obtaining in-depth information and the findings cannot be
quantified. This method was used on interviews that were based on those working for the
institutions that provide information services.
The quantitative methodology represents responses of the wider population rather than
individual perspectives which can be useful in getting quantities, so the responses of this
methodology are quantified. It is useful in getting numbers, as to for instance; how many
people support ICT in Inanda, how many people recognise the importance of ICT and
acknowledge the importance of them being ICT literate. Knowing how many people support
a particular project is useful in determining its success in the community. This method was
applied through using surveys to collect data on the young people of Inanda Newtown A.
Data Collection Methods
This research used interviews to collect data; both open-ended interviews and close-ended
interviews were used as mixed methodology was chosen.
According to Dlamini (2009), questions in a questionnaire follow a specific sequence: from
general information seeking questions to more specific information seeking questions, the
sequence keeps the respondent attentive and facilitates the smooth flow of a respondent’s
progress. In collecting data, this research followed this sequence.
Open-ended interviews allow individuals to give their perspective or knowledge on the
particular question posed to them (2013).Their responses are useful to get insight information
and are linked to qualitative methodology, which record data in a textual form. Individuals
are not given options but what they have to say about a particular issue, under investigation is
important.
Close-ended interviews are the type of interviews that are applicable for quantitative
methodology as the interviewees are given options to choose from. Data (2013) collected
from this form of interview is quantifiable, the numbers are more important than the
perspectives of individuals.
Incorporating both open-ended and close ended questions will enable data to be presented in
accordance to the both the quantitative and qualitative methodologies.
Measuring of variables
The last two questions (9 & 10) in the survey can be answered if one has answered question
8, this will show if the participant has been reading the survey sheet and giving honest
responses or just ticking any option. This will indicate that the survey provides reliable
information provided by the participant. In the third question of the survey, one cannot select
the last option if they have already selected one of the other options, this will also show if the
participants are not randomly selecting options.
Selection of sample
The sample was not chosen based on gender; I do not consider gender being of importance
for this study but rather the young people being the main focus. Therefore the study is not
gender biased. However, the population of Inanda consists of black people, the study is
limited to this race and so the study is race-biased as it will not be representative of all race
groups.
Ethical issues
I have familiarised myself with the ethical issues, which means I understand that the study
should not bring harm to the participants. The participants participated willingly and were
free to withdraw at any time. I had explained that to them and asked for their consents before
proceeding to the questions. The study did not entail minors, it did not include people who
are mentally ill and followed the ethical guidelines of conducting research.
Confidentiality
The researcher understands the importance of confidentiality, the participants were not
compelled to fill in their names and personal details such as; ID numbers and physical
addresses. It is important to explain this to the research participants so that they feel
comfortable, and share the information required for the research.
The Samples
This research made use of purposive sampling technique, which is a non-probability
sampling technique. This method allows the researcher to select a target sample based on
what they know, its element and nature of research aims (2013).
The theoretical population
Survey population
The theoretical population chosen are young people between the ages of 18-30. This
population are people who are in search of jobs, they are the people that companies target
when searching for employees and they have a great potential of developing the future of
Inanda. It is important to gather data from this population as the information given by them
will assist in meeting the aims and objectives of the study. They will be the survey
population.
Interview participants
The theoretical population would be those who are responsible for providing information and
facilitating the use of ICT for the young people and equipping them to become an
information society.
The accessible population
Survey population
The accessible population was the young people of Inanda Newtown A, Inanda is a big area,
for the research to be feasible in the short period of time that one had, and I had to choose a
certain area of Inanda. This population was the most accessible population, they are living in
the same area as me, and they are young people like me. I knew where to find them; they
were also approachable and felt comfortable as were share similar characteristics. I conducted
20 surveys from this population, which means there were 20 participants, each survey had 10
questions.
Interview participants
The accessible population would be a librarian in the Inanda-Ohlange Library as it is the
main community information center for Inanda. And two teachers who teach computer
related studies, one at Inanda Seminary and another at Inanda Newtown Comprehensive High
School.
The interview sample
The interview sample were individuals from local information centres, they offer services for
the community, they would know what the people use their facilities for, and if they are
equipped to provide sufficient services for the community. From this population I conducted
three interviews, one from a teacher of computer studies at Inanda Seminary, a librarian from
Inanda-Ohlange Library and a teacher at Inanda Newtown Comprehensive High School.
Procedure:
This research made use of a purposive sampling technique which is a non-probability
technique. The samples were chosen based on the kind of information that they will be able
to produce for this study and not randomly selected. Randomly selecting individuals will not
be appropriate for this study as certain individuals will not provide useful information for the
research.
Sample 1
The surveys were face to face, I identified the appropriate age group. I had asked them to
participate in the surveys after explaining about the study and asked for their consent. I had to
go to the street corners, near the local tuck-shops, where I knew I would find them sitting in
groups. I also went to their homes, which means I also conducted door to door surveys. I had
explained the survey questions and they had to fill it in while I was there, which means I did
not drop surveys and collected them later on. None of the surveys were on-line surveys as
very few people in my community have internet access and this study is not be limited to
those who have internet access.
Sample 2
In collecting data from this sample, I went to the chosen sample group and conducted face-toface interviews. But before interviewing the population, one had to explain what the research
is about and as a researcher it is important to take note of the research principles, therefore
will ask for their consent. I went to the individual’s workplace and conducted the interviews
there which I felt was more convenient with the interviewees rather than asking them to come
to me. I first made appointments so that I do not come on their busiest time, and not collect
enough data for the research. I recorded the interview in an audio format but also took notes
during the interview. This ensured accuracy; the information was recorded according to what
the interviewee says.
CHAPTER 5: STUDY RESULTS
Introduction
This section will present the results of the study that is being discussed in this paper. The data
collected from surveys and the data collected from the interviews. This section will present
and analyse the data collected
Survey results
Participants:
Age
Figure 1
Age of participants
30%
40%
18-21
21-25
25-30
30%
Figure 1: 40% of the survey participants are between the ages 18-21, the ages 21-25 and 2530 were represented by 30% of the participants.
Description, Figure 2:
Description
Employed/
interns
10%
25%
45%
15%
High school
learners
Unemployed
Tertiary
students
Figure 2: The majority of participants are unemployed, which may be an indication that
employment is an issue in Inanda.
Responses
Question 1: What are computers used for?
Option 1- To play games
Option 2 - Social networks
Option 3 - Applications (study / job)
Option 4-Communication with government
Figure 3
Question 1
5.00%
5.00%
all options
30%
10%
option 3 only
option 1 & 2
option 1& 3
10%
option 3 & 4
15%
25%
option 2 only
option 2, 3 & 4
Figure 3: The pie chart indicates that the majority of the participants recognise all the uses of
computers. It indicates that the majority of the survey population understands what a
computer is. This means that they are also aware of the important functions of a computer
which are; applications and communicating with government. This indicates that the
respondents do have an idea of what computers are used for; they do know something about
the functions of acomputer.
Question 2: Do you know how to use a computer?
Option 1- Yes
Option 2- No
Figure 4
Question 2
30%
Yes
No
70%
Figure 4: The majority of the respondents said they do know how to use a computer, which
is a positive response. But the real question is do they know how to effectively use computer
programs; they may know how to use the computer but do not use it to access important
information that can help them develop. This response may indicate that there is a potential in
building and accelerating an information society in Inanda since the young people are able to
use computers and know the functions of computers.
Question 3: What are the advantages of being computer literate?
Option 1- Increased access to valuable information.
Option 2- Increased chances of employment.
Option 3- Exposure to social networks.
Option 4- I cannot recognise any.
Figure 5
Question 3
20%
Option 1
40%
Option 2
Option 1 & 3
25%
Option 1, 2 & 3
10%
Figure 5: The majority of the surveyed population chose the first three options which was
not a bad response as all these options are advantages of being computer literate. This
indicates that they understand how being computer literate can benefit an individual, they
understand that it can help one to be more knowledgeable, connect with the outside world and
also have better chances of employment. None of them chose the last option, which is great
as this indicates that they can all recognise that being computer literate is an advantage. None
of them chose the last option together with the other questions, this shows that they did read
the options; they were concentrating while filling in the surveys. The response they gave is a
true meaning of what they think and understand about the question.
Question 4: What is the internet?
Option 1- Computer- linked networks allowing access to information globally
Option 2- Network for people to communicate with friends and make new friends
Option 3- Computer network allowing access and communication to various institutions,
from educational to government institutions.
Figure 6
Question 4
5%
10%
All options
Option 1
15%
50%
Option 2
Option 1 & 3
Option 2& 1
20%
Figure 6: All the options that were provided are correct but the aim designing this question in
this manner is to see what the population understands about the internet. The majority of
them chose all three options which indicates that understand the functions of the internet,
they understand what the internet is and what it is used for. This indicates they understand
that the internet is useful for information access, which is a very important function of the
internet. They also recognise the internet as means of communication, I may have not asked
about ICT directly but this indicates they do have an idea of ICT. Information and
communication through the use of the internet does constitute as ICT.
Question 5: What do you use when looking for a job?
Option 1- Newspaper
Option 2- Door to door search
Option 3- Internet
Option 4- Notice boards
Figure 7
Question 5
10%
15%
All options
Option 2
20%
20%
Option 3
Option 1,2 & 4
Option 1 & 3
15%
5%
Options 3 & 4
Options 1, 2 & 3
20%
10%
Options 1, 3 & 4
Figure 7: The main aim of this question was to see if they do use the internet to search for
jobs or if they do consider it as means of searching for job opportunities. It seems that most
of them do consider or use the internet as means of searching for job opportunities. Even
though they still use newspapers and do door to door search, they also use the internet to
search for jobs. This indicates that the population understand how useful the internet can be.
Question 6: Do you have an e-mail address?
Option 1- Yes
Option 2- No
Figure 8
Question 6
45%
55%
Yes
No
Figure 8: They majority of them may have not have e-mail addresses but 45% of them do
have e-mail addresses which is not a very small percentage. This indicates that the
respondents do understand what the internet is and the uses of the internet but they may not
have sufficient internet access as they do not have e-mail addresses.
Question 7: Do you use the local libraries?
Option 1- Yes
Option 2- No
Figure 9
Question 7
35%
Yes
No
65%
Figure 9: The majority of the respondents do not use the local libraries, by saying local
libraries; one is referring to the libraries within the INK (Inanda, Ntuzuma, KwaMashu) area.
This indicates that they don’t make use of the local information facilities. The interview with
the librarian may give an explanation as to why they do not use the Inanda-Ohlange local
library, which is the only local library situated in Inanda. The Tholulwazi library is marked as
an Inanda library but it is situated at Bester and KwaMashu, therefore it cannot be seen as an
information centre that provides information for the communities of Inanda.
Question 8: Which library do you use?
Option 1- Tholulwazi Library
Option 2- Ohlange-Inanda Library
Option 3- Durban Central Library
Option 4- Ntuzuma Library
Option 5- KwaMahu Library
Figure 10
Question 8
Options 1& 2
10%
Option 2
5%
Option 3
45%
15%
Option 4
Options 3, 4 & 5
5%
5%
5% 5%
Options 1& 4
Options 4 & 5
None
Figure 10: The majority of respondents do not use any of the listed libraries. For students it
means that they use the libraries of their instructions. It may also mean that they do not use
libraries at all, and so they are not regular users of computers and the internet which is a great
problem.
Question 9: Does it have a computer?
Option 1- Yes
Option 2- No
Figure 11
Question 9
Yes
50%
50%
Did not
answer
Figure 11: This question was not well structured, it was aimed at finding out which of the
libraries that were listed in the previous question has computers and if the local libraries have
computers. This question did not consider the fact that some people may not use any of the
libraries listed in the previous question and that they may use more than one library.
However, those who have answered the question indicated that the libraries do have
computers. This response may refer to all the libraries that were listed on the previous
question.
Question 10: Is it connected to the internet?
Option 1- Yes
Option 2- No
Figure 12
Question 10
50%
50%
Yes
Didn’t answer
Figure 12: The same applies for this question; the results of this question do not make much
sense or are not clear due to the way the previous two questions. I would assume that the
response apply to all the libraries listed in question 8. Which is a positive response, since the
libraries have computers that are connected to the internet; they are providing facilities that
can assist in accelerating the information society in Inanda.
Interviews:
Interview 1
The first interview was with a teacher at Inanda Seminary, this is a private boarding school
situated at an area of Inanda that is very close to Inanda Glebe and the northern parts of
Inanda Newtown A. The interviewee is a librarian and teaches Information Communication
Technology. He had has been teaching in the school for 11 years which makes suitable for
the research. The interviewee had told me, based on research (a few years ago), it was
discovered that most of the students come from KwaMashu but there is a lot from Inanda. He
explained that it came to them as a surprise but explained that this may be because most of
the people around Inanda cannot afford the fees.
Condition of interview
The interview was conducted at the Inanda Seminary’s library, in the afternoon at 3pm. This
is the time when the students do their sports and it is compulsory for every learner to
participate in sports, which meant that the library had no learners. The interview was
therefore not disturbed by any of the students. The condition was very productive, I also had
enough time to ask any questions, the interviewee was not rushing anywhere and was willing
to provide any information I asked for. I had asked for an interview in advance and he was
ready for when I arrived. The interview was a success but for further research, the quality of
questions can be improved.
Information obtained from interview
The interviewee was able to provide valuable information regarding the issue that is being
discussed in this paper. This information is important to find out what need to be done to
accelerate an information society. The information he provided can help government schools
and libraries with the appropriate strategies to accelerate an information society.
The interviewee had explained to me that the school does allow the community to do their
research; mostly students from Mqaweh High School come for information. They are allowed
to borrow books but they are not allowed to use the computers. They only use them on
National Science Week which is once a year. There have been discussions on creating
partnership with the school as it is a few minutes away from Inanda Seminary, which may
enable Inanda Seminary to teach learners of Mqaweh High School computer lessons but
nothing has been finalised. He also stated that the school opened a new computer lab and the
old computers were taken out but they are still in good conditions. He thinks it would be a
good idea if they could be donated to the Inanda-Ohlange Library or the local church, which
is up the road from Inanda Seminary, and the church could have a computer centre. He then
explains there would need to be a trained facilitator to ensure that people are getting
computer skills.
The interviewee explained to me that, when the grade 8 learners come to their first lesson, he
asks how many have used computers before and how much they know about computers. He
explains that, most of them had used computers before and had them at home. But the
problem is they use them to play games and use unimportant features on the computers that
will not help them develop and function in an information society. He said, “They do not do
real things on the computers”. He explained that it is important for the learners to acquire the
skills that are being offered at Inanda Seminary as they are able to go home and use these
skills outside the school. They are able to help their parents use computers effectively; they
can then use ICT skills to help the wide community. He also stated that the learners love the
ICT class; they look very excited when coming to the lessons and always have something to
do for the whole lesson.
The interviewee stated that being exposed to ICT can change the way an individual thinks, it
can change the way one looks at things. He further stated that the students realise they can go
beyond and are not limited by anything. He said, “When the students look at buildings from
pictures on the internet from places oversees, they go wow and realise that anything is
possible, they realise that there needs to be more work done in South Africa and some of
them may immediately say they would like to be architects so that they can build such
structures for South Africa”. He says that the students are motivated to dream big and think
outside their world.
The interviewee explains that personal motivation of the instructor is very important, the
instructor should be enthusiastic and ready to learn as technology advances every time. The
instructor must also share that with their students that we are all learning daily and allow
them to explore, and raise interest with the students and empower them to go the extra mile.
He also explains that cooperation between the students is very important; it helps the learning
process go on a faster pace. He explains that when students hand in typed work, it make is
easier for the teacher to mark the work and spends less time trying to figure out the
handwriting of each student, it also improves the spelling.
The information that was gathered from the interview is important for government
institutions to get ways in which they can improve their services. Government can also get an
indication on how ICT is important for young people and what kind of future leader can be
produced if young people are provided with the appropriate facilities. This interview shows a
successful ICT implementation at high school level, other learning institutions can be
motivated to adopt the same policies. From my perspective, continued collaboration between
the local schools and community centres is important for the development and future of
Inanda.
Interview 2
The second interview was with a librarian at Inanda-Ohlange Library, which is located at
Inanda, opposite Ohlange Institute, a high school and a heritage site. This is the main
information centre of Inanda and the only community library in Inanda. The interviewee has
been working at the library for only 4 months, the senior librarian refused to do the interview
so had to interview him, even though he is new he can provide valuable information as he is a
local.
Condition of interview
It had been very difficult to get hold of the librarians at Inanda-Ohlange library. I then decide
to go a Saturday as it closes early, when I arrive the library was packed and had one librarian
so decided to wait for it to close (it closes at 12pm) but staff members are to leave at 1pm.
The interview first called the senior librarian and he told me he did not have time. The
interviewee finally agreed. There was not enough time, he also seemed to be in a rush but he
was able to give valuable responses.
Information obtained from interview
The information obtained in this interview is important in finding out if Inanda has sufficient
information services, if the local library can really accommodate the whole of Inanda. The
information obtained in this interview will indicate why Inanda may need another library or a
computer centre that accommodate areas such as Inanda Newtown and Inanda Glebe.
The interviewee explained that the library users come from all over Inanda but most of them
come from Ohlange, Matikwe which are the closest places and that very few come from
Inanda Newtown and Inanda Glebe. He said that is because those areas a very far and it is not
easy to find transport that comes straight to the library, one may have to take to taxis or walk
a long distant to get a taxi to the library. He explained that he feels the library is well
equipped for an information society but cannot provide services of the whole Inanda as
Inanda is a very big area. He feels that Inanda needs another information centre.
The interviewee stated that the library users used both the internet and books for their
research. He stated that about 40% use the computers, it may not be the majority of the
library users but it is a big percentage, which indicates that there are many individuals who
are computer literate. Those who use computers also do school assignment but the internet is
mostly used for social networks. He also explained that some people are not even sure on
what exactly they want when searching for information and people must be able to refine
their research.
The interviewee explained that the computer users may ask him for assistance, and there are
not instructors. As we were walking out the library, I noticed the INK Digital Hub and asked
him to tell me about it. He explained that it is a computer training centre, people take
computer courses and pay a certain fee, and it is for the whole area of INK. The centre looked
very small for providing training for the whole INK area and it is locate in Ohlange which is
not a centre for INK. When I mentioned that to him, he explained that they are part of the
Inanda Heritage Route which makes the area very important and tourism development has
positive impacts on the community. Therefore people from other areas of INK are not aware
of it and it is not easy for them to come to Ohlange on a daily basis. I think it was a good idea
but the communities need more digital hubs.
Based on the information obtained in this interview, Ohlange has good facilities that can be
useful to accelerate an information society. There are many people who are benefiting from
the library and the digital hub. However, other parts of Inanda are not benefiting from these
facilities; they are also not big enough to accommodate the whole of Inanda.
Interview 3
The third interview was conducted on a teacher of Inanda Newtown Comprehensive High
School, which is a public school located in Inanda Newtown C. The interviewee teaches
Computer Applications Technology and has been teaching it since 2008. The purpose of
interviewing him was to find out what kind of computer skill do learners acquire at public
schools and the difficulties that these schools have in this subject. That will be able to explain
if the community facilities provided are sufficient to accelerate an information society.
Condition of interview
The interviewee had asked me to choose a suitable place for the interview and I chose the
school which was convenient for him. The interviewee was willing to be of assistance for the
information I needed for the research. The environment was appropriate and had enough time
to conduct the interview and obtain valuable information.
Information obtained from the interview
The information obtained from this interview explains the issues that the community may
people faced with. It may provide a few ideas that can be used to make policy changes to
accelerate an information society in Inanda.
The interviewee had explained that the skills that they are being taught in this subject can be
applicable in any area of study. He explained that it is very important but people are
ignorance and don’t know about the importance of it and some believe that it doesn’t count
should one wish to go to university. The problem would be that they do not have internet
access.
The interviewee emphasised the importance of early development of computer subjects and
that they should be continuous. He explained that funds are the major problems, they may get
donations but sometimes donations may not be sustainable for such subjects. He explained
that maintenance is a big issue and operational costs and schools cannot afford it. He told me
that a school around the area has two computer labs but the subject was phased out and the
teacher left so there isn’t anyone to teach the subject. The computers went to waste.
The interviewee stated that partnerships are important, local schools can come together and
businesses can intervene. There should be trained individuals to facilitate ICT projects. He
believes that ICT is a catalyst for development but there should be partnerships for it to be
successful. He also stated that people need to be directed to career-oriented objectives with
regards to the use of ICT rather than social networks. He also explains that regular access is
important, libraries should have enough computer facilities to facilitate ICT and more
libraries are needed.
CHAPTER SIX: DATA ANALYSIS
This section will analyse the data, explain how the key research questions were answered
based on the findings of the study. This section will discuss the overall results of the study,
i.e. surveys and all interviews that were conducted. It will also discuss what improvements
can be made for future research.
Does the community know how to use computer services effectively to access important
information?
Based on the information obtained through interviews and surveys, the community is aware
of the importance of computer services. They do understand to a certain extent that computer
programs are important. They are important for increasing chances and accessing important
information. They may seem to understand the advantages of being computer literate.
However, only a small portion of Inanda has access to computers and only a small portion
uses computers to access important information. The others may identify the importance of
being computer literate but the issue might be accessibility. Inanda Seminary seems to be the
only school in Inanda that is well developed for ICT. Inanda Newtown Comprehensive High
School offers a computer subject but does not have internet access which means limits the
kind of schools they acquire. The community cannot effectively use computer services
because they do not have sufficient facilities.
What is the current ICT position in Inanda, what is the level of ICT literacy?
This question was not well answered, the survey question were not well structured or suitable
provide the appropriate answer for this question. The interviewee for the third interview
explained that ICT is already there but is mainly used for social networks and needs to be
directed to career related objectives. The main issue is that ICT needs instructors to assist
people to use ICT effectively for local development. The young people of Inanda are exposed
to ICT but to a certain extent. The young people need ICT centres with motivated
infrastructure to increase the level of ICT literacy.
Are the young people of Inanda making use of local services, do they have facilities that
can enable the functioning of an information society?
The data collected from this study indicate that only those who live around the information
centre make use of it. Usually those who live in other parts of Inanda do not use them
because they live far and there are transport issues. They may also not be aware of the kind of
services that are provided. Another issue is that the local library does not have trained
computer instructors and may not know how to use computers. The local school does have
qualified teacher but the issue is internet access which makes them limited. The facilities are
limited; they are not well equipped to accelerate an information society.
Improvements for future research
The survey questions were not well structured, they need did not effectively answer the key
research questions. The questions did not ask the survey population why they do not use the
local information services. The survey did not ask the population if they have computers at
home. The survey did not ask the population if they have smartphones and if so, what do they
use their smartphones for. Future research would need to ask these questions to improve the
quality of research. However the data collected was able to give a picture of the current
situation of Inanda in terms of information access and the available facilities that provide
information. Further research would also look at other areas of Inanda, and not restrict the
survey population to Inanda Newtown A, areas like Inanda Glebe; Inanda Newtown B could
also be included as they are also far from the Inanda-Ohlange Library.
The interviews were more successful than the surveys; they were able to provide more useful
information. However, improvements can also be made; the interview population may also
need to include the instructor of the INK Digital Hub (which I was not aware of before
conducting this research) and other information centres. The interview population may have
also included other public schools which had phased out computer studies and discuss why
those dissisions were taken.
This research has showed that this area of study should be explored more, it has a potential
for facilitating development. People need to be made aware of the importance of ICT and
information society.
CHAPTER SEVEN: CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMONDATIONS
There is a certain degree of ICT literacy in Inanda, the young people do have an
understanding on the internet and the use of computers. Findings indicate that the young
people do see the importance of being computer literature, the use of the internet effectively.
There are issues of access to ICT facilities, the young people do not have enough facilities to
assist them in functioning as an information society.
Previous studies indicated that ICT is a catalyst for local development, and therefore an
information society is essential to speed up development. It is important to include the
community members who are to benefit from the development thus the information obtained
from the young people can be beneficial to understand what kind of development is need by
the people. The information obtained was able to show that the young people of Inanda need
ICT development, as they recognise the importance of computer programs they would
appreciate such developments. Policy makers should be aware of the problems that were
brought forth by the information service providers (teachers and librarian). They should also
adopt some of the strategies used by successful ICT implementation like the Inanda Seminary
curriculum. Such curriculums are needed in government institutions that provide services for
the community.
Inanda does have a potential for growing an information society as the community is aware
of ICT but needs infrastructure and the right individuals for direction.
Recommendations

Inanda needs an integrated approach, where schools work together to assist each other
for computer training.

Inanda needs another library that will expand into a computer centre where
individuals don’t just have computers with internet access but trained instructors that
will teach them to use the computers and internet.

People need to be taught on the use of their smartphones, they can use them for
research, make use of the important features and not just focus on social networks.

It is important for information service providers to be motivated and willing to serve
the community.

Young people should keep themselves updated on community development projects
such as the INK Digital Hub, take advantage of such opportunities.

It is important for computer related projects to be continuous, so that they are
effective.
Bibliography
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APPENDICES
Survey on accelerating an information society in Inanda
1. What are computers used for?
To play games
Social networks
Applications(job/ study)
Communicate with government
2. Do you know how to use a computer?
Yes
No
3. What are the advantages of being computer literate?
Increased access to valuable information
Increased chances of employment
Exposure to social networks
I cannot recognise any
4. What is the internet?
Computer- linked networks allowing access to information globally
Network for people to communicate with friends and make new friends
Computer network allowing access and communication to various
institutions, from educational to government institutions
5. What do you use when looking for a job?
Newspaper
Door to door search
Internet
Notice boards
6. Do you have an e-mail address?
Yes
No
7. Do you use the local libraries?
Yes
No
8. Which library do you use?
Tholulwazi Library
Ohlange
Durban Central
Ntuzuma Library
KwaMashu Library
9. Does it have a computer?
Yes
No
10. Is it connected to the internet?
Yes
No
Interview transcripts
Interview 1
Name of interviewee: Mr. Alimango
Name of interviewer: Ayanda Ngcobo
Date: 23 May 2013
Place: Inanda Seminary Library
Interviewer: Hi Sir, I would first like to thank you for giving me your time to ask you
questions for my research.
Interviewee: It is my utmost pleasure to be a part of your research project.
Interviewer: How long have you been working here?
Interviewee: I started working here in 2002. I came here to teach French, Maths, Technology
and Information Technology, which is now Information Communication Technology.
Interviewer: What kind of computer skills do you teach?
Interviewee: We teach them Software, Microsoft Word, Microsoft Excel, Microsoft
Publisher, Microsoft PowerPoint. They are also taught typing skills; they also acquire
researching skills as they are exposed to the search engines. We also encourage them to write
their own work instead of copying and pasting from the internet by making them do
summaries, they summaries chunks of work. In that way we avoid laziness and they learn to
do their own work.
Interviewer: How useful are these skills, for when they finish high school?
Interviewee: They learn about plagiarism from grade 9, which is important for the academic
environment. They learn typing skills, which will be useful for when they get employed and
they learn professionalism. They usually e-mail their work, whether it is on PowerPoint or
Microsoft Word, so already they use technological means of communication.
Interviewer: How big are your classes?
Interviewee: Average of 25 students per class and each student has their own computer; the
class has 36 computers, so there are extra computers. If one computer has problems, the
student can use another one and they don't miss the lesson.
Interviewer: What difficulties do you face in the lessons?
Interviewee: It terms of performances, in the lower grades, some students are slow and may
tend to hold back the other students. They slow down the process for I have to go check how
far they have gone with their work, check if they are on the right track. Some students go to
the internet and use it for unnecessary purposes. Downloading things, like music illegally.
Interviewer: What measure can be taking to address difficulties that you face?
Interviewee: There is an IT policy that every parent must sign before their child can be able
to use the computer. For students that misbehave, I tell them to leave the class and their miss
the lesson. That works because the students love the ICT class. It is important to monitor the
students to make sure that they use the internet effectively.
Interviewer: How often do the students use the internet and what do they use it for?
Interviewee: Not often, they use it mostly for research. When a teacher gives them a research
assignment, the teacher first surfs for the appropriate site and gives it to the students. In that
way the use the relevant source rather than just using everything they come across.
Interviewer: Are the facilities only for Inanda Seminary students or students from other
schools are also them?
Interviewee: Yes, they are only for Inanda Seminary students. The community is allowed to
use newspapers and borrow books. But on National Science Week, students from
surroundings schools are allowed to use the computers and are taught how to use them and
that's the only time that they are allowed to use the computers.
Interviewer: What improvements can you pick up, in terms of computer skills, from the
students who are in matric compared to when they were in grade 8?
Interviewee: In the junior phase they are very slow, some of them get really confused and
don't know what to do. In the senior phase they are familiar with e-mailing and typing
assignment, and the internet. In the senior phase, they are also introduced to blogs.
Interviewer: From your own perspective, how important is ICT?
Interviewee: ICT is very important; it can be a catalyst for development. What I have also
picked up from the students is that, when they go home, they are able to teach their parents
what they have learned. They may have computers at home but there are certain things that
they don’t know how to use, after being exposed to the different computer functions they are
able to pass on the skills that they learn at school.
Interviewer: What do you think can be done to familiarize young people of Inanda with ICT?
Interviewee: Umh...That's a very difficult question. We need a good policy for helping
surrounding schools. There have been discussions on helping students of Mqaweh High
School with computer skills but that has not been finalized. We recently built a new computer
lab and had new computers. The old computers are not being used, we could maybe donate it
to Ohlange which is a community library or donated to another school in Inanda. They can
expand it into a computer centre or there could be a computer centre in the local church
which is not far from here. The computer centers need to be monitored, there should be
computer technicians. People need to be trained on the effective ways of using computer
programmes. There should be facilitated for effective ICT implementation.
Interview 2
Name of interviewee: Muzi Ximba
Name of interviewer: Ayanda Ngcobo
Date: 4 June 2013
Place: Inanda-Ohlange Library
Interviewer: How long have you been working here?
Interviewee: 4 months
Interviewer: Is the library for Ohlange High School or the whole community?
Interviewee: The whole community of Inanda.
Interviewer: Which area of Inada, do most library users come from?
Interviewee: They come from all over Inanda but mostly Ohlange and Matikwe, we hardly
get people from Inanda Newtown and Inanda Glebe.
Interviewer: Why don’t the people of Inanda Newtown and Inanda Glebe use the library?
Interviewee: I guess it is because it is very far, you cannot find transport that directly takes
them here. It is not easy for them to come here on a daily basis; they need a library that is
much closer to them.
Interviewer: Would you say that the library is not well equipped to accelerate an information
society in Inanda?
Interviewee: Well, the library is equipped; it just that it is not big enough, it cannot
accommodate the whole Inanda as Inanda is a very big area. It may need to be expanded or
another library may be built in the other parts of Inanda.
Interviewer: What do most library users use for research?
Interviewee: They use both books and the internet but mostly books.
Interviewer: How many of them own library cards?
Interviewee: About 60%.
Interviewer: How many computers do you have?
Interviewee: 10 but only 6 are used by the community.
Interviewer: How many people a day use computers?
Interviewee: A lot, on a typical day, about 59 people use computers.
Interviewer: What do they use the computers for?
Interviewee: Social networks, research for assignments and also for typing CVs and
assignments. But mostly, the computers are used for social networks.
Interviewer: Would you say that the majority of the library users are aware of ICT?
Interviewee: I would say 40% of them are.
Interviewer: What difficulties do you face, with regards to providing information for the
people?
Interviewee: People do not know how to access information; they don’t know where to look.
For example, someone who is doing research on technology may come and ask for an L.O
book and you give them and then they tell you it’s not what they are looking for.
Interviewer: What do you think should be done to address these issues?
Interviewee: People need to be able to refine their search, they must be more specific on what
they want.
Interviewer: Do you think that computer training workshops or instructors are needed to
facilitate the use of computers?
Interviewee: Yes, I do, they can help but I don’t think many people would come. People want
us to do stuff for them, not show them how things are done.
Interview 3
Interviewee: Asiinwe Mwamwenda
Interviewer: Ayanda Ngcobo
Date: 6 June 2013
Place: Inanda Newtown Comprehensive High School
Interviewer: How long have you been teaching computer studies?
Interviewee: Since 2008.
Interviewer: Which area of Inanda, do most students come from?
Interviewee: They come from all over Inanda actually but obviously the majority come from
Bhambayi (Inanda Newtown C), as they are much closer to the school.
Interviewer: How big are you classes?
Interviewee: My classes on average have 28 students per class.
Interviewer: How many computers do you have?
Interviewee: 30 on the dot.
Interviewer: How many times a week do the students have computer lessons?
Interviewee: We work on an 8 day cycle, it goes from day 1 to day 8 then to day 1 again, on
that cycle they are supposed to see me once a week
Interviewer: What kind of skills do the students learn?
Interviewee: Problem solving, word processing, data bases, web design, research
methodology, advanced formula. This subject is a basis for others, no subject at school level
teaches research methodology, it can be applied to any area of study.
Interviewer: How do these skills be of benefit to them for when they finish school?
Interviewee: For research methodology, it is very useful for when they get to university, they
learn how to reference and no other subject offers that, they also learn about plagiarism. It is
a huge plus for when they finish school. Word processing can be applied to any area of study.
Interviewer: Are the computers connected to the internet?
Interviewee: No, they are not
Interviewer: What would you say are the major difficulties that you are faced with, with
regarding to ensuring that the students receive adequate skills that will be useful for when
they leave school?
Interviewee: The problem is they start Computer Applications Technology at grade 10, they
don’t have a background. For most subjects when you come to grade 10, you already have a
background of it but for computers, you don’t which makes it difficult. Funds are also a
problem, in terms of maintenance, you may get donations but they are not always sustainable.
Interviewee: What do you think can be done to address the difficulties?
Interviewee: Computers should be introduced early; they should be part of the curriculum at
the early grades and should be continuous. And funds, school cannot afford to provide
computer studies.
Interviewer: Would you say that ICT can be a catalyst for development?
Interviewee: A huge catalyst, some of the skills I teach in grade 12, you find that other
schools teach those skills in 9. ICT should be something that is used and accessible all the
time.
Interviewer: What would you say needs to be done to accelerate the information society in
Inanda, what are the major community needs?
Interviewee: A lot is happening, a lot is already there. Such as access to smartphones, it just
needs to be pushed more into career-oriented objectives rather than social networks. There
should be more libraries and there must be regular access. Exposure is key, it should be
introduced as early as possible, it must also be continuous, it must be everywhere. You find
that adults can’t even type CVs. Infrastructure is also important, it’s a great need.