By Charmaine Ndlela
Deputy Minister of Basic Education Reginah Mhaule has called for stronger collaboration between government, business and communities to prepare South African learners for the digital economy, saying partnerships are critical to ensuring no child is left behind in the age of artificial intelligence.
Speaking at the launch of an Artificial Intelligence (AI), Coding and Robotics Laboratory at Khulile Primary School in Motherwell, Eastern Cape, on Thursday, Mhaule said the facility would equip learners with the digital, coding and critical-thinking skills needed to succeed in an increasingly technology-driven world.
The laboratory, established through a partnership between the Department of Basic Education (DBE), Isuzu Motors South Africa and Sifiso EdTech, provides a dedicated space for learners to explore AI, coding and robotics through practical learning. It also includes specialised training for educators to integrate the subjects into classroom teaching.
Quoting the African proverb, “If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together,” Mhaule said collaboration between the public and private sectors was essential to expanding access to future-focused education.
“This laboratory gives our learners the opportunity to become creators, innovators and problem-solvers. It equips them with the digital, coding and critical-thinking skills they need to thrive in an evolving economy,” she said.
Mhaule said AI, coding and robotics are transforming industries worldwide, making it increasingly important for learners to develop technological skills from an early age.
She said initiatives such as the new laboratory would enable learners to become active participants in the technological revolution rather than passive consumers, while preparing them for careers in engineering, medicine, aviation and other emerging professions.
The investment, she said, supports government’s goal of equipping young people with the innovation, creativity and digital skills required for the Fourth Industrial Revolution.
Mhaule added that the project demonstrated how partnerships between government and the private sector could help reduce educational inequalities by giving township learners access to the same technological opportunities as those in more affluent communities.
She commended Isuzu Motors South Africa for its continued investment in education in the Eastern Cape.
Since 2024, Isuzu has partnered with the READ Educational Trust to strengthen literacy through library resources, digital devices, teacher development and parent training. The programme has benefited more than 1,390 learners through an investment of nearly R2.8 million.
Mhaule also highlighted Isuzu’s partnership with the Govan Mbeki Mathematics Development Centre, launched in 2021 to improve Mathematics and Physical Sciences teaching at KwaZakhele, Newell and Sophakama high schools.
According to Mhaule, the programme has delivered measurable results, with the 2025 Grade 12 cohort recording a 30% improvement in Mathematics and a 39% improvement in Physical Sciences.
She said Khulile Primary School, which has served the Motherwell community since 1990, was a fitting location for the initiative, describing the new laboratory as another example of how strategic partnerships can expand educational opportunities and prepare learners for a rapidly changing global economy.
“Together, government and the private sector can ensure that South Africa’s children are prepared and equipped to thrive in the age of artificial intelligence,” Mhaule said.
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