By Levy Masiteng
In effort to bridge the digital divide, the Telkom Foundation in partnership with Communications and Digital Technologies Minister Solly Malatsi, has unveiled a cutting-edge Cyberlab at Morutwa Secondary School in Madiga Village, Polokwane.
The foundation said the facility would benefit over 350 learners in Grades 10 to 12 and 25 educators annually, with its potential reach extending to the broader community through engagement and support programmes.
The new lab is equipped with an array of digital learning tools, including 40 new workstations that provide learners with hands-on experience in computing and technology, and 10 laptops so that students can access online resources and conduct research.
Online resources include platforms such as TelkomLearn, Lightbulb and BCX Learn through Alibaba Cloud. The lab will allow learners to do online education research, conduct online experiments and ultimately apply to universities, the foundation said.
The unveiling also saw the donation of pre-owned desks and office furniture for classrooms and staff areas, a school website with email addresses for all staff, and Telkom support for electricity connections.
Telkom’s chief digital officer Sello Mmakau highlighted the importance of digital inclusion, saying that “ICT access, digital skills and connectivity are engines of personal and economic growth”.
Telkom Foundation head Judy Vilakazi emphasised the organisation’s commitment to leveraging technology to improve education and drive socio-economic development.
“The objective is to drive sustainable socio-economic solutions and to make a difference for South Africa’s communities. We are proud to be able to make a contribution here at Morutwa,” she said.
Principal ETI Manyuwa expressed his gratitude for the Cyberlab.
“It will allow children to access knowledge online, but it will also allow our teachers to improve the training they can provide our learners through a more powerful online teaching resource.”
Malatsi’s department said the launch underscored the minister’s commitment to working with the private sector and taking a “whole-of-society approach” to expanding digital access and bridging the digital divide.
The launch, supported by Sentech, marked World Telecommunication and Information Society Day. The theme for this year was “Closing the Gender Digital Divide Unlocks Opportunity For All”.
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