Emfundisweni Primary School moved up a gear in its quest to be a fully equipped IT school from the foundation phase.
This after a donation of 10 iPads equipped with appropriate apps to assist in improving numeracy and reading skills for the grades 1s, 2s and 3s. Donated by non-profit organisation Human Doings and sponsored by technology company Mimecast as part of the #FuelForChange programme, the iPads add to others given to the school last year.
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The gesture was also appreciated by the Department of Education as part of government’s drive to make all schools, particularly in poor areas, conform with the global information technology trends in the classroom.
The NPO’s Ashley Padayachy said the donation was in keeping with the school’s drive to develop excellent and capable children and teachers who are current with technology. “They add to last year’s donation which helped to produce phenomenal results which prove that excellence can be achieved with appropriate support,” he said.
He added that while children were familiar with technology the teachers were a bit scared at first but adapted and can now guide the groups appropriately.
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The programme is for the long term and includes other support like toys and a mobile clinic which provided health checks including eye tests of the pupils. “School work requires a healthy mind in a healthy body,” he added.
The organisation also intends to support other schools in need in other poor areas.
In a statement, praising the programme’s success through last year’s results, Mimecast’s Melisa Holder said, “As a technology company we are committed to helping equip our future leaders with skills they need for a digital world. Science, technology, engineering and math skills are lacking, and it’s important to introduce the foundational skills like numeracy from an early age.
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“Last year’s fantastic results urged us to donate the additional 10 iPads all installed with the 1 Billion Numeracy App.” The company urged the pupils to adopt positive attitudes towards technology as a learning tool, to pursue careers in the IT sector so as to be candidates for employment in the company.
Details: Mbali Mokoena 011 463 0366.
