One of the big stories of the week, which did not get much coverage, was one that would have been funny if it was not so very sad.
It had to do with the fact that 85% of parliamentarians are not computer literate. This means that only 15% of our elected leaders know how to operate a computer.
Apparently all parliamentarians have laptops or computers but many of them have never taken them out of their boxes because they don’t even know how to switch them on. So you have unused new computers sitting in boxes in offices all over Parliament.
I heard this bit of news on CapeTalk on Wednesday but have not seen it reported anywhere else.
Apparently House Chairperson Obed Bapela has now organised group training sessions, starting in July, to teach MPs how to use computers.
According to CapeTalk, Bapela said that for those “embarrassed by their computer literacy, private sessions can be arranged”.
It is hoped that after the training, all our MPs will then be able to engage with their constituents on Facebook, Twitter and other social networking sites.
On second thought, maybe our MPs should remain computer illiterate because I don’t know if I want to be bombarded by friend requests from MPs on Facebook.
Seriously though, I wonder why it took so long to identify this as a problem and whether this was also a problem under previous administrations. Or are this lot of MPs just not very bright?
In today’s world, one cannot survive unless you are computer literate. I’m not saying that everyone should be on social networking sites, but to not even know how to switch on your computer is pretty bad for a public representative.
Operating a computer is a basic life-skill in the world today, like being able to type, drive or cook for yourself.
So how do MPs communicate with their constituents if, I have to assume, they don’t even know how to use email? Do they still use snail mail (which very few people use nowadays) or do they still use faxes (which very few people use nowadays).
Our MPs can argue that they are keeping in touch with the people, who do not have access to tools such as computers. But so many poor people are techno savvy nowadays because of their exposure to cellphones, on which they access the internet and even emails.
Of course, the opposition will probably argue that the 85% consists mainly or solely of ANC MPs. However, the ANC does not have an 85% majority in Parliament. In fact, they do not even have a two-thirds majority. So it stands to reason that these computer illiterate MPs are probably spread across political parties.
I don’t know if the July classes will help but at least it will force MPs to open their PC or laptop boxes. Getting to use them on a regular basis, I fear, is going to take a little bit more effort.
We can only hope that, if the media decide to check up same time next year, that the number of computer literate MPs would have considerably gone up. I suppose we can only live in hope.
so how do our revered MP’s conduct their day-to-day business: planning; managing budgets; receiving and dealing with complements / complaints; speech writing; public presentations? surely not by using a pen and paper? now one has to ask – what do they do?
“Or are this lot of MPs just not very bright?”
Being a ruling party MP doesn’t require much thinking or doing anything apart from showing up and rubber stamping ANC policies.
It would, however, be interesting to see how MPs compare across a range of skill sets – the audit of local government councilor skills was pretty distressing reading.
Ideally you would like to test stuff like reading skills, political/economic literacy, legal knowledge, critical thinking skills etc. But, even testing hard skills like computer literacy, education levels and so forth could make for interesting reading.
Very sad news indeed. They are probably waiting for a free course from their employer the government so they can learn this. How sad is that?
How said is it that you get people who are driving some expensive cars and drinking expensive whisky’s but don’t even know how to operate a laptop. When a computer literacy course cost only 2 bottles of Johnnie Blue?
Ah, but knowing about computers raises the dreaded “merit” word which MPs avoid like the plague.These MPs got there not because they displayed intellectual savy. knowledge of modern technology and business tools, but because of us, computer-literate dummies, who voted for them.
Training courses are a good idea!
it means that 85% will be absent and then maybe the DA has the majority in the house and can stage a coup ….ahhh – if only dreams could come true!
On the other hand I am not aware of any word in Pedi for computer, a thoroughly un-African concept and we should rather talk about spaceflight the traditional way [2 women flying on a loaf of bread - ....but that's another story]
Joking aside, i think the only worthwhile method of storing information are hieroglyphics hammered into stone, everything else is ephemeral and does not count.
Another thought: How many MP’s are paying their water and electricity bills? TV licenses? Traffic fines?
I think we are looking at people who are scoff-law’s!
ARREST THE LOT!
Similar to libraries at schools – providing the facility is incomplete if the human element is not there. i.e. Willingness to learn and ability to teach adults.
C. Muller: No, by using their secretary.
Tlanch Tau: How sad is it that many people who drive expensive BMWs don’t even know how to operate their idicators?
However, hitting 60, I am still notoriously nervous of the computer I sit at every day. If something goes wrong, I shout and my son has to bound down 20 stairs to help (since it’s sometimes to adjust a connection around the back of the tower under my desk where the light never shines and my knees can’t take the pain, although the home help’s do, the shout is dual-purpose).
But when I, for my sins, worked for DoT, my director one day told us his computer wasn’t working (his excuse for not receiving someone’s e-mail that we didn’t believe he could download himself, anyway). A helpful colleague offered to check it out. He returned, having told the director that it would help to plug the computer into the power!
Then there was the deputy director who refused point blank to use a keyboard or computer, saying that typing was not one of his listed job functions!
When you realise the human frailties of those who rule our country, it’s sometimes really difficult to have a vast amount of respect for them.
Hey my MP’s on facebook. not that i’m sure that’s a good thing. but non the less.
Your concern of government not engaging with the public via social media etc. is somewhat demeaning considering most DEVELOPED democracies opt not to engage in this way since it alienates the majority of their constituencies – this includes the US and UK. Considering that SA is a country with one of the largest digital divides for MPs to engage in social media like FB means that like the DA, they will only cater to a tiny minority of the population – the wealthy, educated elite with FB profiles!
All democracies have long way to go before governments can embrace social media technologies like they way the private sector does today.
Were you really surprised Ryland?
Really?
Wow!
@ “Dave Harris” You assert “most DEVELOPED democracies opt not to engage in this way since it alienates the majority of their constituencies – this includes the US and UK.”
Really, Dave? Where did you dig out that bit of misinformation?
As for the “digital divide” — you may have noticed that quite a lot of people have cellphones, “Dave.” This may be news to you, “Dave” but you can establish a Facebook account just with a cellphone, and many people do. I just did a quick survey of my “friends” on Facebook. I have about 200 friends. More than half of them are not part of the “wealthy educated elite.” (Although they are all educated, I will give you that)
Fair enough there are computer illiterate MP’s in our parliment, yet what are the statistics of this literacy through out the country. What is actually dire is that there are probably more computer illiterate rural and urban teachers in our education system in our country, so let’s worry for the young learners who are the future generation and maybe we can re-visit the whole issue of globalisation and evaluate who we will ultimately bow down to.
OK Piet, show me ANY US and UK government policy document that stipulates that social media like FB should be used to engage with their constituencies. Your half-baked knowledge of social media does not even address the privacy concerns let alone equitable access. Its amazing how dangerous a little knowledge can be!
@ “Dave Harris” Dear “Dave” (may I call you that?) nobody, especially not me, suggested that it should be government policy that politicians communicate with their constituents through Facebook. I would say, without fear of contradiction from anyone but you, that politicians in the UK and the US use social media on a large scale to communicate with their constituents. In fact, this is touted as one of the more successful techniques used by President Obama in his election campaign.
By the way, you can save the trouble of attempting to insult me. I take it from where it comes — a person hiding behind a false name.
I was hiking around the Magubeng [sic] plateau a few years back investigating san rock paintings. It is easily one of the county’s most isolated regions. I saw small rural schools with satellite connections plus computers, for use by the schools.
I’m sure they were not as many as would be preferred, but the same could be said for the school where i work… you can never have enough. Given half a second’s opportunity the kids are sneaking off onto Facebook and mmixit and and whatever. Some are even tweeting.
I’m sure that there are people out there in the rural heartlands who are able to access social media and empower themselves… Presumably that is what Mr Harris is afraid of.
Thinking social media are a passing fad classifies as what Leavitt called Marketing Myopia: and as i understand it Mr Harris the current US President waged the major thrust of his successful candidacy on the use of social media…
Note too that within weeks of Twitter coming into vogue there were rampant complaints of Congress persons tweeting during speeches. It sharpened up the speeches.
It is disturbing that our MP’s are so allegedly computer illiterate…
How would you resolve to solve this; surely there are fellows ready to exploit the opportunity… or are they all afraid they won’t get paid/customers? .
Ok scratch that last part… i forgot your article was about solving the problem… sterkte.