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Samsung strengthens Phomolong partnership

Staff Writer
By Staff Writer, ITWeb
Johannesburg, 15 May 2013

Samsung Africa has donated several TVs and smartphones to Phomolong Secondary School, in Tembisa.

The latest donation forms part of the consumer electronics brand's extended partnership with the school. This partnership also includes the stationing of a Samsung Solar-Powered Internet School on the school grounds.

"Technology alone is not enough to improve education in SA. And in fact, it can be of little use unless it is paired with strong, committed leaders who ensure its impact is maximised, as well as the good management of education solutions," says Ntutule Tshenye, corporate citizenship and business-to-government lead at Samsung Africa.

"We welcome and encourage these kinds of partnerships. I've seen many e-learning proposals, and I can say that what Samsung is doing with its Solar-Powered Internet School initiative and other efforts to advance quality education through technology is wonderful," said Panyaza Lesufi, head of communications for the Department of Basic Education, at the handover ceremony. Lesufi added that Samsung's work with Phomolong was helping the school to really "make things happen".

The TVs will be used to screen educational content to the students. The smartphones will become a resource for teachers, improving their productivity and allowing them to better communicate with the school principal.

According to Samsung, Phomolong Secondary School's strong matric pass rate made it the perfect candidate for the Solar-Powered Internet School. Between 2010 and 2012, the school's pass rate increased by 37.5%, to 97.5%, and the school's principal, Mocheke Thoka, is aiming for a 100% pass rate this year, adding that Samsung's donation will help him achieve this goal.

"We are really grateful for this partnership with Samsung. Since the Solar-Powered Internet School arrived, we have seen a huge improvement in the academic performance of our students," said Thoka, adding that learners use the facility to do their homework, conduct online research, and to apply for bursaries to tertiary institutions.

"Our teachers benefit from wider access to more educational materials, and they have undergone training to use the various technologies in the classroom, expanding their skill sets. I'm very excited about the new TVs and smartphones, which will help us bring more multimedia content into the classroom, help me communicate with my staff, and let them benefit from the functionality of smartphones," the principal added.

"Phomolong Secondary School is a good partner for us - we know that our investment will go a long way," concluded Tshenye.

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