Telkom`s procurement head Motlatsi Nzeku visited the Western Cape on 4 May to lend a hand to a worthy cause - that of donating 20 Internet-connected computers to a Cape Town school in a bid to improve its falling matric results.
Giving the learners a much-needed boost, Nzeku handed over the computer centre to ID Mkhize Senior Secondary School at a function attended by - among other people - Western Cape Education MEC Cameron Dugmore in Gugulethu township.
The school`s first attempt at computer education in 2002 promised a bright future for the learners, with a non-governmental organisation (NGO) funding the introduction of computer lessons.
However, failure by the learners to pay attendance fees put paid to their hopes, with the NGO later pulling the plug on the project by recovering the computers.
This was a big blow for the school`s morale, and as such its matric results have been gradually dropping from 65% in 2002 to 48% last year.
Nzeku has adopted the school to reverse this state of affairs through donating an e-learning centre with 20 networked computers, a server and a printer. This will enable the school to introduce an additional academic stream of computer studies.
It currently offers five academic streams, namely: commercial, science, arts and culture, general and home economics subjects. The school was formed in 1972 as the existing Fezeka Secondary School could not accommodate the increasing student population of Gugulethu. It currently has a total of 1052 learners from Grade 8 to 12, with 32 educators.
Speaking at the hand-over function today, Nzeku said the penetration of computers was critical to increasing the number of people with access to the Internet.
"Internet on its own may not mean anything, but a guided and a guarded use of Internet will definitely enable learners to access a body of information, knowledge and the rest of the world," he said.
He explained that each time a new Internet subscriber was connected, SA was moving a step forward towards equipping Africans with relevant modern life skills.
"It is important that African learners are exposed to efficient modern learning tools in great numbers. Telkom focuses on learners at this formative age to cultivate a disciplined approach towards learning and the working environment,"
Today`s donation of 20 computers equipped with Internet connectivity is a major milestone in the country`s efforts to tackle technological inequalities," Nzeku said.
Nzeku, like all members of the Telkom management, participate in the Adopt-A-Project programme, which is an initiative of the Telkom Foundation to improve the quality of science, maths and technology education in South African schools.
"As a technology company, Telkom is mindful of the need to grow SA`s skills base so that as many technologically knowledgeable people as possible are available to the South African economy," added Nzeku.
Share
Editorial contacts