Langa High School in Cape Town will for the first time offer its students computer courses after the opening of a new multimedia centre sponsored by Bytes Technology Group (BTG).
The centre was opened by Altron Group chairman Bill Venter and education minister Naledi Pandor, who described this as "a perfect example of public private partnerships".
"It is one of the first of its kind in this part of the Western Cape," said Venter. "With an investment of around R1 million, the Langa Multi-Media Centre represents a significant step taken by our group in bridging the digital divide within previously disadvantaged communities."
Pandor said: "The Langa Multi-Media Centre is an investment not only in the education of the Langa youth who are attending the school; but an investment in future generations. The need for computer literacy skills cannot be overestimated in today`s world and I look forward to seeing the first graduates from this school go on to become successful IT entrepreneurs."
According to BTG, the centre forms part of its corporate social responsibility initiative. This is the second facility to be sponsored by the company, following a Gauteng multimedia centre opened in 2004 at Isikhumbuzo High School in Orange Farm.
The Langa Multi-Media Centre was established in August last year but was officially opened as a centre for education only at the beginning of the current school year. The first class of 30 matriculants will receive computer application training this year.
"BTG`s investment in our community is a way to address the digital divide in Langa," said Langa High School principal Poobalan Murugan. "Our learners have lacked access to computer resources due to the legacy of apartheid. The centre now gives learners an opportunity to build their capacity and to prepare them for entry into the digital age."
A further step towards ensuring capacity at the school was the staff training provided by Bytes People Solutions. Murugan and three teaching staff members have been trained in basic computer literacy and have received International Computer Driving Licence (ICDL) certification.
According to Murugan, the future use and development of the Langa Multi-Media Centre will include an Internet caf'e and computer training to the community at a nominal fee, to ensure the long-term sustainability of the centre.
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