Johannesburg, 27 Feb 2013
For Thobani Nkosi from Alexandra Township, learning how to use a computer at his high school, KwaBhekilanga Secondary School, has made all the difference in his career.
Nkosi, 24, is now employed by the City of Johannesburg as a client service agent. The computer skills he learnt from his school have gone a long way in helping him secure employment. After high school, Nkosi couldn't further his education at a tertiary institution, sighting financial challenges. However, he was able to use a computer which is a basic requirement for any career. He took advantage of this skill and this has landed him a job.
"At school, I made it a point that I learn how to use a computer. I made sure I didn't miss a single class. After high school, I couldn't further my education, but I realised that I had a skill I could sell to an employer. I had no experience but I possessed a skill and I took advantage of this. I did get a few odd jobs, one as a Community Liaison Officer in the township; being computer literate has always given me an added advantage," said Nkosi.
Kwabhekilanga Secondary School is one of 1 557 schools furnished with a Gauteng Online Laboratory, where learners are taught how to use a computer, the Internet and access other e-learning material. To date, over 1.4 million learners are using Gauteng Online as part of their curriculum. These learners have Gauteng Online User IDs, passwords and e-mail addresses. These figures are substantiated by significant traffic across the Gauteng Online network, which demonstrates that over 40 million Internet page requests are delivered to schools over a rolling average of seven days.
The President of South Africa, Honourable Jacob Zuma, stated in his State of the Nation Address that youth unemployment was on a rise in our communities. The Gauteng Online Schools Project has taken a stance to give computer skills to learners in order to make them marketable after their schooling. Like Nkosi, many other learners in the schooling system possess these skills and are using them to better their lives.
Nkosi, who was also a youth activist at school, the former Secretary of the Congress of South African Students (COSAS), in Johannesburg, said education is important as it is a tool to unlock the future for young people.
"These computers have really changed the nature of education and put South African learners up there with the best. Everything operates through the use of technology, and it is important for learners to be computer literate as this will give them an edge one day," Nkosi said.
The Department of Finance's Chief Director for Communications, Desiree Ntshingila, added: "Technology is evolving and we want to be there among the best in the world. We are also excited that we have made a contribution in the lives of many like Thobani Nkosi, who can possess a skill that will help them one day. We will continue to do our utmost best to bring the best in e-learning technology to enhance learning."
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