Industry commentators have called the Department of Basic Education's recent decision to standardise software tools in public high schools a "giant step backwards".

Circular S9/2013 from the Department of Basic Education (DBE) stated that in 2014 only Microsoft Office operating systems may be used and that in IT, Java has been dumped and replaced by Delphi as a programming language.

Industry commentator Derek Keats has called the DBE's decision "a shocking embarrassment to our nation" and stated that “it disadvantages every school child in the nation, creates a whole generation of technology slavery, and denies school learners the opportunity to learn programming technologies that are ACTUALLY IN USE. The decision to implement Delphi is a bit like mandating Latin as the language for literature.”

Apparently, a Free and Open Source Software (FOSS) Policy was promulgated in 2007 by the SA government which stated that states FOSS should become the accepted practice in all spheres of government, and that citizens should have comprehensive access to FOSS.

This directive is completely counter to this policy in that it forces the implementation of proprietary technologies where viable FOSS alternatives exist.

Speculators wonder if there are kick-backs or other ulterior motives behind this decision.

So, once again, we see the DBE implementing a one-size-fits-all system, that will ultimately limit the nation’s youth in the IT world.

And once again, as homeschoolers, we can breathe a huge sigh of relief that our children need not be affected by this restrictive decision. If we have children interested in IT, homeschooling allows them the time and the freedom to learn whatever systems or coding languages they choose.

SA homeschooling dad, Frank Muller is convinced that, “If your children are interested in IT, they need to be well versed in FOSS, especially the Linux and Android platforms, plus coding languages such as PHP, etc. Software ideology is rapidly evolving towards an app-approach for everything, so this is where the "next big thing" in programming lies for children in their late teens.” (tuisonderwysgroup@yahoogrups, 11 October 2013)

Most parents don’t know much about technology and computer programming, so this page should give you a place to start learning about these fields with your children. TECHNOLOGY

It includes links to (free) sites and homeschooling products to help your children learn electronics, robotics, coding, animation and more! You might even decide to learn some of these skills yourself!