The Communications and Postal Services Department has rolled out free wi-fi connection, tablets, laptops and a digital television set to the Louis Trichardt High School in Limpopo. The donation is part of government’s Connect SA programme which aims to see all public hospitals, clinics and schools connected to the internet by 2030. The programmes also aim to expose careers in the fourth industrial revolution to learners.
Deputy Minister of Communications Pinky Kekana donated the ICT learning material to the school. Some of the school’s grade 12 learners welcomed the donation.
“I am definitely excited for the growth of the school and the children who were not privileged who are now privileged. They are helping with the children to grow even more and we are going to make the school even stronger and we are going to connect them.”
“I’m excited for the future and I’m happy that she provided us with the necessary tools to excel academically.”
Speaker after speaker motivated learners to take careers in ICT. Some of the learners however say they are not considering it.
“I’m not going to do software developing or going into technology because I’m going to become a CA so I think it’s kind of part of it.”
“I have maths and physical science, but I don’t think I will go in a technical direction because it’s not one of my strong points.”
Kekana says the donation is the first of a nationwide programme that will be rolled-out throughout the year at government health and education facilities.
“Now we are launching the first of its kind, we are starting with Limpopo in district. We have about 1210 sites that are going to be connected. It’s both your schools and your clinics in the area which will have access to the internet but also access to free Wi-Fi.”
Kekana says about 1200 schools, clinics and hospitals in the Vhembe area alone will benefit from the SA Connect programme.
@Pinky_Kekana1 challenges learners to be innovative and start thinking about developing software #SAconnect #BuildingACapable4IRArmy pic.twitter.com/absF97OxR2
— SA Gov News (@SAgovnews) January 24, 2019
