By Johnathan Paoli
Basic Education Deputy Minister Reginah Mhaule has emphasised the crucial role that investments in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) education play in the country’s economy, calling for more to be done in preparing South African learners for the digital future.
Addressing learners, educators and stakeholders, Deputy Minister Mhaule officially launched two new robotic labs at Cingani High and Soqhayisa Secondary School in Motherwell, Gqeberha.
The initiative, a collaboration between the Shoprite Foundation, Future Nation College and the department, is set to provide learners with critical skills in robotics, coding, and digital literacy.
“If we fail to equip our young people with relevant, future-fit skills, we risk turning what should be our greatest asset into a burden. This represents a crucial step towards ensuring that South African learners are not left behind in the technical revolution,” Mhaule said.
The launch also included the unveiling of a Consumer Studies kitchen at Cingani, providing learners with practical culinary and business skills, further broadening their career prospects.
Africa is the youngest continent, with over 60% of its population under the age of 25, and that by 2060, projections indicate that Africa will have the largest working-age population globally.
Mhaule cautioned that while this demographic advantage has great potential, it must be matched with a robust education system to ensure that the youth were equipped with the skills necessary to drive innovation and economic growth.
She said the world was rapidly evolving with artificial intelligence, big data, automation and digital transformation, which was reshaping industries.
The labs aim to provide learners with hands-on experience in these technologies, positioning them for future career opportunities in data science, engineering and robotics.
Mhaule lauded Shoprite for its investment in education, emphasising the importance of public-private partnerships in driving sustainable development.
She referenced the Embedded Systems Theory, which highlighted the interdependence between businesses and the communities in which they operate.
“Businesses do not operate in isolation. They are embedded within the communities they operate in, and the success of companies such as Shoprite is directly tied to the well-being of the societies in which they operate. A thriving community creates a thriving economy, which in turn creates a stronger consumer base and workforce for businesses,” Mhaule said.
The deputy minister highlighted the reality that the government alone could not address the vast educational needs of the country.
Collaborations with the private sector, civil society and academia were necessary to transform the education system effectively.
The launch serves as a model of what can be achieved when different sectors work together to equip learners with essential skills.
Mhaule directed a passionate appeal to the learners benefiting from the new labs, urging them to take full advantage of the resources provided.
She said the launch marked a significant milestone in integrating robotics and coding into the South African school curriculum; and with technology-driven education gaining momentum, initiatives like the Shoprite Robotics Centre would be instrumental in ensuring that learners were adequately prepared for the digital age.
Shoprite Foundation Managing Trustee Maude Modise reiterated the company’s commitment to investing in education as a means of fostering economic growth and social development.
Modise stated that Shoprite recognised the importance of equipping young people with skills that would make them employable in a technology-driven world.
“Technology has the ability to transform lives. By investing in technology education, the Shoprite Foundation is supporting a future where young people have the necessary skills and opportunities to succeed in a world where demand continues to grow for roles such as artificial intelligence and machine learning specialists, as well as robotics engineers,” she said.
The deputy minister said that the opening of the labs in Motherwell sets a precedent for future collaborations between government and private enterprises in addressing educational challenges.
She said the initiative aligned with South Africa’s broader strategy of integrating digital skills into the curriculum and ensuring that learners were well prepared for the demands of the 21st-century job market.
Mhaule expressed her gratitude to Shoprite for their visionary leadership and investment in education, emphasising that such initiatives played a crucial role in shaping the nation’s future.
She said the launch followed the successful roll-out of two robotics labs in KwaZulu-Natal in January last year, and were expected to serve as a model for future educational investments, ensuring that South African learners remained competitive in an increasingly digital world.
INSIDE EDUCATION
