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Female matriculant ready to conquer IT world

Masibulele Lunika
By Masibulele Lunika
Johannesburg, 18 Jan 2017
Reabetswe Keebine hopes to light a path for other girls who share the same passion for technology.
Reabetswe Keebine hopes to light a path for other girls who share the same passion for technology.

Reabetswe Keebine, from Brescia House School in Johannesburg, developed her first software application using the Delphi coding language.

The 18-year-old tech enthusiast from Fourways, Johannesburg, recently passed her matric with flying colours. She received six distinctions, with her highest mark in information technology (IT) at 91%. She plans to study computer science at the University of Cape Town from March this year. Despite venturing into a male-dominated profession, she says she hopes to revolutionise the tech world as an inspirational woman in IT.

For her matric IT project, Keebine developed a gaming app using a standard software coding language called Delphi, commonly used in local schools. The app is a combination of both her passions for music and technology. The app, which she created over the course of grade 11 and 12, is called "music melodies and meladies".

Her passion for IT stretches back to when she was only nine years old and her father used to allow her to play with his computer. She was always able to offer personal tech support to her friends and teachers. She often got teased for her often complex presentations during computer class. "In grade eight I decided I definitely had to have a career in IT and finally narrowed it down to computer science when I discovered coding in grade 10."

Keebine says she loves technology primarily because it's unpredictable with so many inventions in the market that make life easier. She believes the Internet of things (IOT) is the next big thing in the tech world. "I think IOT could become a major game-changer. Being able to connect all parts of one's home and business life into a complex, yet simple network is an intriguing and exciting development that I hope to be part of."

Her ultimate dream would be to start her own business creating apps for companies or to work for a company such as Microsoft, Google or a South African equivalent.

According to Moira de Roche, independent learning specialist and director of the Institute of IT Professionals SA, IT needs to be offered as a subject at all girls' schools. "We also need to find a way to get girls interested in IT as a career, by showing the practical applications of IT, and how it can solve real world problems. There are some initiatives running where girls are taught to code, and they are very good at it."

Moira points out that the country has a big problem with regards to its standard of mathematics. "I also think the universities should relook at their entrance criteria - ability with music or languages also shows logical ability. Another problem is that there are not enough IT teachers."

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