Laptop program runs out of cash

A government programme worth more than half a billion rand to supply public schools’ teachers with laptop computers has run out of cash, according to a report on Tuesday.

The R550 million allocated for the nine provinces in the 2009/10  financial year has been used to pay teachers’ salaries instead, the  New Age reported.

“Due to the delays in the implementation, the funds initially allocated for the allowances for the teachers’ laptop initiative were used to address other financial pressures arising form the settlements of the occupation specific dispensation (OSD) and annual improvements of salaries,” basic education spokesman Panyaza  Lesufi told the daily newspaper.