Mobile operators Telkom and MTN are assisting top-performing matriculates from disadvantaged backgrounds with digital tools and bursaries to help them access tertiary education.
To mark the achievement of the class of 2021, the operators announced initiatives to empower the top-performers across the country with scholarships, laptops, WiFi routers and data packages, as a contribution to digitally-transform disadvantaged communities.
The initiatives follow the release of the 2021 National Senior Certificate examination results, which showed an improvement in maths results, while science slumped.
Telkom, through its foundation, together with Huawei Technologies, have partnered with four provinces to reward and recognise the top-performing matriculants.
The Telkom Foundation has pledged R400 000 in donations, which includes routers with WiFi connection for six months, notebook computers and a R10 000 bursary to some of the top students in Gauteng, Limpopo, Eastern Cape and KwaZulu-Natal.
“We are proud of the matric class of 2021 and we continue to contribute to issues of national importance, especially in the education space. This donation is aimed at assisting the learners to kick-start and access tertiary education, and in turn inspire future matriculants,” says Sarah Mthintso, head of Telkom Foundation.
“In addition, we will be donating R10 000 to the top learner in the country to contribute to their further studies and to reward them for their hard work."
On MTN’s part, over and above sponsoring the matric results announcement, the mobile operator last week launched a back to school campaign, seeking to drive the benefits of digital learning.
MTN SA Foundation rewarded the top 10 students in each province with laptops and backpacks.
The top national students will also receive a MTN Pulse hamper that includes a mobile WiFi router and once-off 20GB data to go with their laptops.
Kusile Mtunzi-Hairwadzi, general manager of MTN SA Foundation, comments: “We are proud that despite the challenges they faced, our fearless South African learners persevered, defeated a stop-go year of teaching and school closures, and ended the year by producing a strong set of academic results.
“We are committed to helping drive education that matters and supporting SA’s children to reach their dreams. Our 2022 back to school campaign is focused on driving access to education across SA and this is backed up by our MTN online school platform providing broad and high-level educational support.”
MTN says upcoming programmes include the sponsoring of an additional 50 tablets to help learners in grade 10 from schools selected by the provincial MECs of the departments of education in partnership with its regional offices.
“Through our initiatives, MTN aims to create awareness and ensure the learners have enhanced access to e-learning offered by our MTN Online School portal. Our over-arching campaign will also help drive more learners to our Online School to help them with their studies and prepare them for their futures,” says Mtunzi-Hairwadzi.
“Education is the cornerstone upon which a nation provides opportunities for social mobility, equity, social justice and democracy.
“Our aim is to take our basic education to the next level through these and future initiatives. We will continue to enable the youth to access educational fundamentals to tackle the demands of the fourth industrial revolution in a manner that allows them to access future opportunities.”
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