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The Telkom Foundation, in partnership with the Department of Basic Education (DBE), is unveiling its virtual classroom solution at four South African high schools between 9 and 15 June 2022.
This initiative is expected to empower 1 100 learners and 30 teachers with the ICT skills and devices they need to thrive in an increasingly virtual world. The schools include Tiisetsang Secondary and Kgola-Thuto Secondary in the Free State, and Methula Secondary and Qhubulwazi Combined School in Mpumalanga.
When the COVID 19 pandemic hit in 2020, it revealed the extent of digital exclusion which mostly impacts South African public schools. Most of the learners in these schools were excluded as a result of not having access to technology to continue with their lessons. In April 2020, ICASA, the Regulator, assigned the much-needed temporary radio frequency spectrum to operators including Telkom. This spectrum allocation came with specific social-impact obligations including, to help the DBE deliver virtual lessons to grade-12 learners at selected schools. The above schools were allocated to Telkom and given the role of Telkom in deploying technology to improve the learning experience and teaching practise, through its Foundation, this partnership with the selected schools made perfect sense.
"This partnership is exciting for us because it means we now have added more schools that are enabled with adequate access to a comprehensive ICT solution that includes, devices, connectivity, a learner management system, educational content, and training, reaching areas that would otherwise not have been reached.” says [Sarah Mthintso, Head of Telkom Foundation]. “We have also equipped the classrooms of these schools with DBE-approved devices and tools like wireless microphones, video cameras and LED display monitors. We have delivered laptops to all the learners and will be providing zero-rated SIM cards to enable them to access learning without having to worry about data."
This programme will be part of our continuous effort to widen access to those schools that may not have these resources. It is our view that access will also be critical not only to today’s grade 12 learners but all learners in these schools and potentially youth in the area will also have access to these facilities as part of our digital literacy programme.
"The launch of these virtual classrooms demonstrates Telkom’s contribution and commitment to the youth, while also allowing us to increase connectivity capacity for our consumers," says Mthintso. "We are proud to be in a position where we can support students with education underpinned by technology and connectivity."
Mthintso goes on to say that we're living at a time when innovation increasingly drives prosperity. To take advantage of the possibilities created by future industries, we need to unlock talent and future-fit the youth.
This project is expected to showcase the strength of Telkom’s partnership with Lightbulb Education, a Telkom supported online education platform, which provides high quality interactive CAPS content, the DBE, as well as leveraging Telkom’s capability in connectivity, and its Foundation’s experience in effectively integrating technology in education.
"This is just one of several initiatives that provides connectivity and learning opportunities to rural schools. It’s our mission to connect everyone to a better life, but that is only possible by facilitating digital skills development and laying a solid foundation of connectivity for all," Mthintso concludes.
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For more information contact: media@telkom.co.za