The Star reported on Thursday that The Sunward Christian Academy would become an "e-school" next year, with free wi-fi which pupils would use to download their lessons to tablet computers.

Academy high school head Adele Huyzers told the newspaper the move would save money for the parents of the 200 pupils.

"A parent buying textbooks for their child would spend about R3500. Using e-books will cost about R800," Huyzers said.

Homework could be e-mailed to students or handed to them on a memory stick.

Students would be able to use Google for their studies and could record lessons on video or audio.

According to The Star, a tablet would cost about R2500 and was expected to last three or four years.

Parents would receive updates on their children's performances on their cellphones.

While the students would receive their lessons with tablets and different e-formats, the school had not completely done away with paper and pen.

Pupils would still have exercise books, would submit written work and write their exams using pen and paper.