E- Learning boost for schools

Sonri Naidoo|Published 3 years ago

Official handover ceremony of digital mobile libraries to schools in Thokoza, Alberton. From Left, Simunye primary principal Ellen Shongwe and Rura Business Development manager Jeffrey Katuruza. Photo Sonri Naidoo.

Two schools in Thokoza, Ekurhuleni, yesterday received mobile digital libraries. The donation was made possible by Astron Energy and Rura.

Both Simunye Primary School and Landulwazi Comprehensive School received ICT equipment for Grades 4 to 7 pupils. The donation formed part of the Gauteng Department of Education’s plan to equip township schools with e-learning equipment.

Jeffrey Katuruza, the business developer manager at Rura, said education was the quickest tool to escape poverty and that every child deserved education and to experience it through e-learning.

“We've distributed over 40 mobile tablets between the two schools. We have also included a three-in-one printer and a wi-fi router which converts the classroom into a PC classroom, making it easier for teachers to teach and learners to learn,” said Katuruza.

The principal of Simunye Primary School, Ellen Shongwe, said the school was blessed to be one of the beneficiaries of this donation and that these gadgets would improve the pupils’ engagements in the classroom.

“From the traditional teaching to e-learning, I think this will be very interesting to our pupils because they will benefit a lot and they will be more interested in coming to school. If they play with these gadgets they will see pictures which will improve their performance,” said Shongwe.

She added that the school lacked an ICT laboratory classroom after the one they had was demolished and was not able to accommodate the 772 pupils in the school.

The Gauteng Department of Education IT Systems Development and Technical Support director, Vusi Khoza, said embracing ICT in education was very important and he hoped that educators would safeguard the new equipment.

“This is not first and it’s the first of many. Neighbouring schools also need this type of equipment. We are pleased with the partners who have reached out to assist the department with their goal to equip township schools with e-learning connectivity and we welcome those who want to get on board,” said Khoza.

Winny Dubazane, the national CSI adviser for Astron Energy, said they joined this initiative because of the vision they as a company believe in, namely to ensure that science and technology in schools are in place to stimulate learning.