Multimedia training centre for Alex

Construction of a high technology multimedia training centre for disadvantaged high school pupils and community members is underway in Alexandra.

The construction of the Altech Multimedia Training Centre by Allied Technologies (Pty) Limited (Altech), which is expected to be completed and handed over to the community by November, was built in response to an approach from Alex resident Obed Bapela, who is the Deputy Minister in the Presidency for Performance Monitoring and Evaluation.

Bapela, who is also the chairman of the Alexandra Renewal Project, said the facility will provide an education opportunity for the Alexandra community with particular emphasis on providing high school pupils with access to an information technology centre and resource library.

Altech, together with Blue Groove Africa, a non-governmental organisation, and the Alexandra Renewal Project, identified land adjacent to Minerva Secondary School to be used for the centre. This land was donated by the Johannesburg Property Company for use as a multimedia centre.

The facility falls within the jurisdiction of Ward 76 represented by Councilor Julia Moloi and the project has been given the thumbs up from Ward 76 and the seven high schools in the area. More than 10 000 students will directly benefit from this project.

The day-to-day running of programmes at the centre will be managed by Protec, a non-governmental organisation that will manage extra tuition classes in mathematics, science, English, computers and life skills for grade 8 to 10 pupils.

In addition to the classes managed by Protec, Altech will also establish additional educational services with other service providers in order to broaden community access, particularly for adult students. Coupled with this, Altech will provide learnerships in computer literacy for unemployed youth in the area, which will be run and managed by Bytes People Solutions.

Speaking at the sod-turning ceremony in Alexandra, Johan Klein, group executive for corporate services at Altron TMT, which owns Altech, said that it was imperative for the private sector, government and communities to partner together in order to address South Africa’s maths and science skills shortage.

“No single parent, teacher or even school can meet the full spectrum of our young people’s needs. Today, more than ever, we need to take hands, join forces, and act together in the best interests of our children,” he said.