It looks like the Gauteng Department of Education had a bit a rough year in 2015.

According to MEC of Education, Panyaza Lesufi, 29 smartboards were stolen in schools in Johannesburg central, 20 in the south of Tshwane, 18 in the north of Johannesburg, 17 in Johannesburg South and 17 in Johannesburg West.

Interactive LED smartboards were installed in more than 300 schools last year as part of the Paperless Classrooms to replace traditional chalk boards.

“It saddens me that more than 100 smartboards have been stolen since installation of paperless classrooms,” Lesufi said. “We are at war with criminals in our schools.”

In the beginning of 2015, during the project’s pilot launch phase, the department had said that security measures such as burglar guards, alarm systems and security guards would be put in place to make sure criminals would not be able to access computers, smartboards and WiFi infrastructure in schools.

Lesufi added that his department is making progress in the recovery of the stolen smartboards and that the recovery rate is increasing.

[Image – Gauteng Department of Education]