Home security company ADT, in collaboration with the South African Education and Environment Programme (SAEP), has initiated an IT education programme known as 'ADT Teach' targeting disadvantaged learners by giving them an opportunity to learn computer skills.
According to ADT, the lack of infrastructure and support in disadvantaged schools means that many high schools do not have the ability to teach IT. First implemented in Cape Town and Johannesburg, ADT Teach has reached out to hundreds of learners at disadvantaged schools in the cities.
“This skills development programme aims to help address unemployment. ADT interviews over 1 000 job seekers nationally every month, the majority of whom don't have the most basic of skills and are, therefore, functionally unemployable.
“The teach programme provides skills that can take learners out of this group and offer them the chance to better their lives whether in the job market or at tertiary education level,” says Francisca Chikondo, who heads the programme in Johannesburg.
The programme is currently running at three schools in Gauteng; Allanridge Combined School (Rabie Ridge), Tsosoloso YaAfrica Secondary School (Ebony Park) and Umqhele Secondary School (Ivory Park) with a total of 168 learners.
“These schools were specifically selected as they have the greatest need for IT education and we are very pleased to be able to provide a quality programme for these learners,” says Roy Rawlins, managing director of ADT in Johannesburg.
Chikondo explains the curriculum covers learning objectives of the nationally recognised IT Certificate provided by the South African Services Skills Education Training Authority.
“Many of these learners will be invited to continue with advanced ADT Teach training in Grades 11 and 12, with a new cohort of Grade 10s entering the programme each year.”
She adds that ADT Teach has given learners who had previously never touched a computer the ability to create spreadsheets, presentations, CVs, letters and posters.
“A 3G router enabled them to use the Internet for research and e-mail and each practical exercise was complemented by a discussion of its relevance to society.”
Chikondo also notes, during the time she has been with the programme, she has discovered that the learners who undertake maths and science have tended to stay with the programme and are very enthusiastic about it.
Describing the challenges that they face, Chikondo says one of the big challenges has been giving the classes in English because all the computer programmes require the use of English.
However, she says, some schools have shunned the programme for various reasons though they do not offer IT training in the schools.
Share
