E–Point Study Centre opens in Roodepoort

The new, well equipped, e-Point Study Centre for Interactive Distance Learning and e-commerce was officially opened in Roodepoort Square Centre on the 14th January 2000. Keynote speakers included the Deputy Minister of Education, Father Smangaliso Mkhatshwa, and the Chairman of the Johannesburg Stock Exchange, Mr Norman Lowenthal. Writes Mandla Maseko

The Study Centre, which is situated next to the Roodepoort railway station, is a unique trendsetter for distance education, as it is a library containing only computer facilities. Here, learners will be able to use the facilities, gain access to the Internet for educational purposes, and access lessons or books online for particular courses. The Site Manager, Siyabulela Dlepu, confirmed that university and technikon learners would be able to use facilities free of charge (except for printing facilities).

Father Mkhatshwa praised the initiative as evidence that South Africa ’s private sector was contributing positively to meeting the country’s educational needs, especially infrastructure needs. He said that government wished to encourage other companies to follow the example set by Cyber Connections and support similar initiatives.

Mr Lowenthal confirmed that the Johannesburg Stock Exchange also suppor-ted the e-Point Study Centre initiative. He explained that the idea behind the project was to provide access to learning for all students who pursue their tertiary education. The centre will provide a golden opportunity for learners enrolled in distance education institutions to be connected to one another via the Internet. It will change the conventional class-based system of accessing learning.

At the end of the conference, it was announced that the opening of the Roodepoort e-Point Study Centre was only the beginning of Cyber Connection’s mission to provide such facilities country-wide.