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EDWIN NAIDU
MINISTER of Higher Education, Science and Innovation, Dr Blade Nzimande, opened a computer lab at
Moloke Primary School in Sekhukhune last Friday, 24 connecting learners and young people studying
to the Internet.
The computer lab consists of two connected 12-meter upcycled storage containers, with computers powered by solar energy, to bridge the digital divide for learners in disadvantaged communities.
Limpopo MEC of Education, Mavhungu-Lerule Ramakhanya, and the Fetakgomo Tubatse Mayor, Eddie Edwin Maila, joined Nzimande in handing over the computer lab to the community of Sekhukhune.
This off-grid media lab project is initiated and funded through the department of science and Innovation’s Renewable and Sustainable Energy Research Hub and Spokes Programme.
Apart from assisting in teaching and learning, the National Youth Development Agency also used the lab to train 30 young people in business development. This demonstrates that government departments and entities can work closely to deliver services to the nation.
The media lab project is the culmination of a long-standing investment by the Department of Science and Innovation in the development and application of scientific knowledge domains.
“These media labs are also meant to advance publicly funded Intellectual property to enable technology localisation, job creation and service delivery to our people,” he said.
Through this project, Stellenbosch University will train interns from the Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) colleges.
The University has already recruited and trained one TVET College Graduate on solar PV and monitoring of the media labs.
This project will enable interns to secure Diplomas as part of their internship training for 18 months before they can get their qualification from the TVET college.
“What is also important is that our interns will get their qualification equipped with the scarce skills in the renewable energy sector where most people in rural areas do not normally participate,” the Minister said.
With the media laboratory at Moloke school, Sekhukhune TVET College is also involved.
This partnership will unlock the training of TVET college graduates in the scarce skills area of renewable
energy.
The media lab is off-grid, which was done to relieve the school from the pressure of buying
electricity to power the computers.
INSIDE EDUCATION