A R3.1-million, 10-classroom secondary school for learners in the remote Mount Frere district of the Eastern Cape was officially opened today (31 July 2002) thanks to donations from two of SA`s technology giants, MTN (through the MTN Foundation) and Dimension Data.
A year ago, the Nzululwazi (depth of knowledge) Senior Secondary School consisted of one brick structure and a makeshift building. Appalling conditions and lack of facilities translated into a 2001 matric pass rate of 10%.
Today, the school`s 290 learners and 10 educators are accommodated in fully equipped classrooms. The school also boasts a library, IT media centre, science laboratory, a hall and an administration block complete with kitchen and four offices. Local contractors were employed to erect the school`s new brick buildings.
In addition, MTN has ensured that the school will be able to sustain its facilities for years to come by providing a Telecentre.
The Telecentre, which has six cellular phones for public use as well as a public phone, is designed to boost entrepreneurship by selling MTN recharge vouchers, snacks, Eskom cards and the facility can also be used as a satellite Post Office. In addition, the small business will provide employment and revenue generated from it will ensure the continued maintenance of the school`s equipment.
MTN`s and Dimension Data`s involvement in the project followed a call from former President Nelson Mandela, who has made it one of his personal crusades to enlist the aid of corporate South Africa in order to provide decent educational facilities in disadvantaged areas.
"We are proud to be associated with the establishment of another Madiba School," says Dimension Data`s CEO, Mr Jeremy Ord. "A brief perusal of the School Register of Needs shows that remarkable progress has been made in eliminating the backlog in the provision of educational facilities - and much of this progress is evident in the Eastern Cape.
"But we cannot rest on our laurels. We fully agree with President Mbeki`s injunction that no child should have to learn under a tree for want of a decent classroom. South Africa`s future depends on ensuring our citizens are well educated. From a purely selfish perspective, high-tech companies like Dimension Data and MTN must have access to a growing pool of skilled individuals. A school like this is where it starts."
According to M-Cell/MTN CEO, Phuthuma Nhleko, the launch of Nzululwazi is a further extension of the company`s commitment to Dr Nelson Mandela`s vision of a society where quality centers of learning are accessible to all.
"MTN has been working with the Departments of Communication and Education to assist with the development of sustainable technology-based education initiatives. This initiative supports Minister Kader Asmal`s Top 100 Maths and Science Schools project and a core focus is the use of technology and skills transfer to improve the overall teaching and learning environment, coupled with the improvement of management and administration capacities of schools."
"Our aim is to ultimately provide and create new possibilities for learners and educators that will also naturally uplift the community at large."
Both MTN and Dimension Data are involved in various education projects.
Education and training has long played a significant role in Dimension Data`s internal development and external corporate social responsibility programmes. These include the Dimension Data Saturday School which, since 1995, has offered English, Mathematics, Science, Computer Science and Social Science lessons as well as career counselling to promising grade 11 and 12 pupils from eight schools in the Tembisa area in the East Rand.
The Group is also a founder participant in the Gauteng Education Department`s Gauteng Online project. And internally, the Dimension Data Learnership Programme takes technically skilled graduates from previously disadvantaged communities that have shown potential in other programmes, and deploys them within the Group.
Education is a core focus of the MTN Foundation, MTN`s social investment arm. The Schools Connectivity project is a demonstration of MTN`s commitment to bridge the digital divide and ensure increased accessibility to the Internet through the provision of Information and Communication technology.
Through the project, 25 schools countrywide would be equipped with between 10 to15 computers, servers, printers, television sets and other audiovisual equipment in an effort to bring the benefits of ICT closer to rural and disadvantaged communities.
In addition, the `Adopt A School` project is focused on furbishing math & science
laboratories at identified schools with the necessary equipment to further the pursuit of excellence in these fields.
Another project of particular value has proved to be the Outreach Arts Programme run by the MTN Arts Institute, aimed at transferring skills and supporting educators and learners through art education, essentially utilising MTN`s extensive collection to the benefit of education.
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Dimension Data Holdings plc (LSE: DDT) is a leading global technology services company, specialising in providing IT solutions that enable businesses to operate and communicate flexibly and seamlessly. The Group`s unique combination of networking and application integration expertise and global managed services capabilities make it ideally positioned to deliver these solutions.
Dimension Data, founded in 1983, had revenues of $2.5 billion in 2001 and operates in 30+ countries with over 9,500 employees.
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