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The Enabling Environment

The Western Cape Government (WCG), the Western Cape Education Department (WCED) and the State Information Agency (SITA), has completed the Broadband connectivity installation at schools in the province. The next work to be done is the wireless Local Area Network (LAN) to connect classrooms to the Broadband internet connectivity of the Wide Area Network (WAN).

BBi (Broadband Initiative) Project

The purpose of the Broadband project is to bring fast internet into the school environment which is a game-changer for the WCED. In general, the installation of Fibre Optics / Wireless broadband connections in WCED schools will provide fast and reliable internet.

The Schools LAN Implementation Project

The broader purpose of the Schools LAN Project is to enable teachers and learners in each of the instructional rooms in your school, to access the Broadband connectivity. The installation is both cable-based and wireless. This is then part of the bigger eLearning Initiative at your school, which enables the school to access online teaching and learning resources. We have however discovered that a number of schools with functional LANs require assistance in logging teachers and learners onto this new network. The section that follows offers schools such guidance.

The difference between Wi-Fi and Wireless connectivity

In very general terms wireless and Wi-Fi are the same thing in that they allow devices to connect to the Internet without a cable. The functionality and end result is effectively the same. The difference is in the method of connectivity. Wi-Fi is a terminology that refers to short range wireless connection to a broadband connection. Wireless connectivity refers to connecting devices using cellular technology.

How to connect Teachers and Learners onto the Broadband through the school’s LAN.

In order to access the internet via the Local Area Network (LAN), learners and teachers need to log on using assigned usernames and passwords (this is referred to as their “user credentials”).

Please note that:

  • Teachers will be granted access using their PERSAL numbers
  • Learners will be assigned unique user credentials which can be accessed on CEMIS
  • Visitors or governing body appointed staff will be granted access by schools completing a Staff Request Form and emailing it to SchoolsIT.ServiceDesk@westerncape.gov.za.
Where to find the Log-in details for Learners/Teachers

In order to access learner user credentials via CEMIS please browse to the following location:

  • Reports
  • Broadband connectivity
  • Login Credentials
Download the User Guides for a Step-by-Step
  • Open CEMIS in your browser.
  • Please note that you will find a “Broadband connection guide”, “Introduction” and “Staff Request Form” under the “Broadband connectivity” tab.
  • These guides provide step-by-step processes to follow towards getting teachers or learners connected either using their own devices or devices that the school may have for use.
  • The login can be done on most mobile device types and recognises the user and not the device. One user could therefore login using any of the different devices they may have.

Download the LAN Implementation Connection Training Guide and the LAN User Credential Guide for easy access.

O365 Online Accounts for teachers (A1) clarification

All teachers of ordinary public and special schools have been given access to a provincial school email address through an Office 365 online account. This is a web-based version of Microsoft’s Office Suite.

What this enables:
  • The Office 365 online account gives teachers access to the full bouquet of Office 365 online applications.
  • This access includes Microsoft Teams, which is an application enabling collaboration and teamwork.
  • Staff across the WCED will thus be able to chat by instant messaging, video calling, voice calling, file-sharing, engaging in virtual meetings and real-time collaboration.
How to access the services:
  • The first-time LOGIN details will be made available to the school principal on CEMIS to share with the staff of the school.
  • Teachers whose details have not been captured on CEMIS will not have access to MS Teams or their new email account until their details are captured and updated on CEMIS.
  • Should any of the teachers’ details be captured on CEMIS and no login credentials are displayed, schools will have to report it to the schools’ IT Service helpdesk (021 834 4690).

Please be advised that the use of the service and the provincial email are intended for professional, school or education-related engagements only.

Technical Assistance

A guide on how to set up your new Office 365 account for the first time can be downloaded from the WCED Schools IT Website. A guide on how to access your Office 365 online account on your desktop, laptop and/or mobile device is also available. This is the second step in setting up. Should technical assistance be needed, please send communication via an email: to schoolsit.servicedesk@westerncape.gov.za or WhatsApp 021 900 7123. Note: The new Schools’ IT Service Desk contact number is: 021 834 4690.

Training opportunities

Several related training opportunities are provided through the following components: Provincial WCG ICT Training Unit, Cape Teaching and Leadership Institute (CTLI), the Directorate eLearning and the district eLearning advisory teams.

The ICT Training Unit and The Centre for e-Innovation (CEI) in the Department of the Premier (DotP) have developed an online MS Teams Orientation training course which is available at https://icttraining.westerncape.gov.za/moodle.

Teachers who complete this self-paced course will develop the know-how to collaborate and communicate from anywhere, virtually, and on any device at any time (the course is not location- or time-bound). Scan the following QR code into your smart phone to access the How-to-get-started guide.

For additional information on training opportunities contact your district eLearning advisers.

How to access your Office 365 online TEACHERS: Log in on the CEI LMS
How to setup your new WCED Office 365 online eLearning Minute: DEL 0001/2020 (MS 365 Licensing)

 

Security
  • Antivirus protection and the maintenance of devices are the user’s responsibility.
  • No devices will be allowed to join the domain or browse the network.
  • Users will only be allowed to use a browser to connect to the internet or LMS (Learning Management System) in the cloud.
  • ALL internet traffic will be monitored.
  • All users will be subject to the school’s AUP (Acceptable User Policy) that will govern the use of the WCGSCHOOLS network.
 
Need assistance or further information?

If you encounter any technical challenge, or you need further information please log your request with the Schools IT Service Desk:

Fault reporting at Schools IT Service Desk (not to WCG, SITA, LIT or BNC):

All calls are to be logged at IT Service Desk (07:30am - 16:00pm)

Telephone: 021 900 7123
Email: SchoolsIT.ServiceDesk@westerncape.gov.za
WhatsApp: 021 900 7123

See the information poster here.

When logging a call please note the following information:
  • Your Name and Surname
  • Education District
  • Name of School
  • Contact telephone number (landline and cell number)
  • Email Address
  • Detailed Problem Description
NB: Please ensure that you record the reference number for your incident that has been logged. This reference number will be used to provide updates as necessary.

District Support Staff

The District eLearning teams, consisting of eAdvisors and Project Managers, are geared to support schools with the integration of eLearning in everyday classroom activities. Schools are requested to make contact with the project managers should they experience LAN-related challenges.

District

Project Manager

Email

Telephone

Metro Central
Andre Van Zyl
021 514 6969
Metro East
Gert Wagenaar
082 200 7051
Metro North
Bradley Dirks
081 541 7322
Metro South
Peter John Van Wyk
021 370 2038
Cape Winelands
Donald Lakey
028 214 7300
Eden and Central Karoo
Rolandi Brenkman
044 803 8431
West Coast
Auriel Gertze
021 860 1200
Overberg
Wayne Hendricks
028 214 7332

Head Office Support Staff

Name

Job Title

Email

Andre Pietersen
Deputy Director: Enabling Environment
Tasmeer Abbas
ASD: Data Analyst
Ryan Erasmus
ASD: Project Manager
Mandiso Jonas AO: Enabling Environment Mandiso.Jonas@westerncape.gov.za