As the world becomes ever more technologically advanced, coding and robotics education in South
African Schools is becoming increasingly important to best equip learners with the skills and
knowledge they will need in the digital future.
Durban’s Open Air School, a special needs school catering for learners with physical disabilities, visual
impairments, and learners on the autistic spectrum disorder, from Pre-primary to Grade 12, has long
recognised the need to upgrade its information technology offering to cater for young learners in its
charge but lacked the financial muscle to bring such coding and robotics tuition into its curriculum…
until now.
A R550 000 junior computer room upgrade donation by the South African Muslim Charitable Trust
(SAMCT) has recently enabled the Glenwood-based school to fully engage with information
technology, beter-preparing learners for the digital age.
Commenting on its computer room donation, SAMCT representative, Mr. Shabir Chohan, said: “With
the Government recognising the importance of coding and robotics in education, many schools in
this country have begun incorporating such subjects into their curriculum. Sadly, however, there are
a large number of schools for whom this adaptation is beyond their financial means, threatening
learners with being left behind as the digital world rapidly evolves.”
It is widely believed that coding and robotics education both prepare learners for the future world of
work and cultivate essential skills, inclusive of problem-solving, critical thinking, and creativity.
“Schools in South Africa must adapt to the changing world by offering coding and robotics
programmes and we, of the SAMCT, are pleased to be in a position to contribute to this crucial
transformation process through funding the major upgrade of the Open Air School’s junior computer
room in the quest to help create a brighter future for participating learners,” Mr. Chohan said.
Robotics is considered an excellent medium to nurture creativity among, especially, young learners,
enabling them to express themselves by giving life to abstract concepts through the creation of
tangible, functional machines. Similarly, coding gives effect to learner innovation, endowing
learners with the means to transform creative ideas into reality.
The Open Air School, established in 1921, has some 250 learners, from Pre-primary to Grade 12, and
offers specialist staff and educators, specialised support and development, speech therapy and
physiotherapy, professional medical support (nursing), extracurricular activities, physical education
and hostel accommodation for its special needs term boarders.
Mr Chohan said: “The SAMCT is privileged to have partnered with the Open Air School to bring the
latest available technology into this educational institution’s activity mix.”
The SAMCT was created in 2008, the result of a partnership between Old Mutual Unit Trusts and Al
Baraka Bank, for the creation, marketing, and distribution of a suite of Shariah Funds. The
organisation provides funding, services, and other resources for the improvement of the lives of the
vulnerable, deprived, and disadvantaged. It has been singularly successful in delivering sizeable
assistance solutions throughout South Africa – irrespective of race or religion – and continues to work
to support needy organisations in the fields of healthcare, social development, poverty alleviation
and education.
The primary objective of the Open Air School is to ensure that its learners are safe and well cared
for, whilst meeting and supporting their social and emotional needs, as well as delivering the
support necessary for them to reach their true academic potential.
“This is a school doing amazing work in educating physically challenged learners by empowering
them to become fully independent, so preparing them to become meaningful contributors to society
and the economy. Given that the latest technological devices play a pivotal role in the lives of its
learners, our computer room donation is set to give effect to the beginning of computer training,
coding, and robotics in the school’s foundation phase, Mr. Chohan said.
For more information about the SAMCT or it’s Open Air School Computer Room donation, please
contact:
Rasheeda Motala
Social Responsibility Officer
Tel: 084 506 2280
Email: samct@samct.co.za