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Ngcwanguba Senior Primary School in Mqanduli, under the King Sabata Dalindyebo (KSD) Local Municipality, has become the latest rural school to receive a collection of mobile mathematics, science and technology kits from the Eastern Cape Gambling Board (ECGB).
This after the ECGB handed over trolleys packed with mobile mathematics, science and technology items to the school on February 8.
ECGB head of strategic management services and corporate social responsibility programmes, Luvuyo Tshoko, said the kits were an investment aimed at unearthing future scientists, especially those from rural schools.
“Many of our rural schools do not have facilities such as science laboratories, and learners at those schools are at a disadvantage because they often do not get to put what they learn during science classes into practice, and only know the theoretical part of their lessons.
“The mobile kits are meant to address that and ensure that learners from rural schools are not disadvantaged and are able to do practical experiments using the devices we have delivered to the school,” said Tshoko.
He said that they were specific in their investment of these devices, by ensuring that they go to the poorest areas with the aim of building capacity of young learners at these schools.
Over 30 schools have received mobile mathematics, science and technology kits from the ECGB in the last five years, according to Tshoko.
“The idea of investing in our Grade R to 7 learners is to set a base that will ultimately improve the mathematics, science and technology outcomes of learners from the schools we have invested in through the mobile kits,” added Tshoko.
Ngcwanguba Senior Primary School principal, Zukiswa Gxaba, said the mobile kits delivered by the ECGB will make teaching and learning easy, as learners will not only learn theory but will be able to put what they learn into practice.
“The devices mean that learners will learn mathematics, science and technology live, without theorising, and the practical aspect using the devices will make lessons interesting to the learners,” said Gxaba.
She further expressed hope that the devices will also help attract more learners to the school as parents had opted to send their children to schools that are well equipped.
Gxaba has appealed to other donors to help her school with computers and internet connections.
Tshoko said that they were working with the Eastern Cape Department of Social Development and Statistics South Africa which provides them with areas that are most in need and where the mobile devices will have the most impact.
Eastern Cape Social Development MEC, Bukiwe Fanta, led the handover ceremony, as she was also at the school as part of the government’s back-to-school programme.
Fanta donated school shoes and backpacks to destitute learners at the school.
