MEDIA RELEASE
South Coast School Provided With A R217 000 Technology Injection
For Immediate Release: Wednesday 21 February 2018
—————————————————————————————————————-
The importance of computer literacy in South Africa may be compared with maths and science in terms of its value to the future of learners in today’s technologically-driven era.
So said Mr Abdul-Gaffar Osman, a Trustee of the South African Muslim Charitable Trust (SAMCT), at the recent hand-over of technology equipment, valued at R217 000, to As-Salaam Private School at Braemar on KwaZulu-Natal’s lower South Coast. “Technology in South African schools is vitally important and this computer equipment will make a world of difference to the academic growth and development of learners here,” he added.
“Globally, we are becoming an increasingly digital society and reliance on technology will increase as we move into an ever-more digital future. Sadly, however, many schools in this country lack access to technology. Schools worked to introduce computer laboratories for training, but with the rapid advances which characterise the IT industry, the norm now is for entire classrooms to be transformed into one-to-one, anywhere, anytime learning environments,” said Mr Osman.
He said: “Those schools lacking any form of access to technology are fast becoming mired in an operational past which is no longer relevant to the needs of business and society. This is tragic – particularly when viewed against the historic disparity between and high levels of inequality in schools, the legacy of a skewed past and the unfortunate lack of the massive investment necessary to level the playing fields in education during the years since democracy.”
He stressed that ways must be found by the political leadership and captains of industry to support schools, teachers and learners with all-encompassing access to technology and the effective teaching of computer skills. “We must realise that the concept of e-Learning in classrooms is here and if schools in South Africa are not brought up to speed very quickly, the business sector will find its future business owners and their employees are unable to compete effectively in the global environment,” Mr Osman maintained.
“The SAMCT is pleased to contribute, in a small way, to facilitating technology development at As- Salaam Private School. Enhancing its existing information technology environment will assist in delivering more structured computer lessons and after-hours classes. We recognise the financial challenges schools, such as As-Salaam Private School, face, but believe access to computers will mean a technologically-advanced future for learners,” said Mr Osman.
The SAMCT was established in 2008 to provide funding, services and other resources for the improvement of the lives of the vulnerable, deprived and disadvantaged, delivering financial assistance solutions throughout the country, irrespective of race or religion in the fields of health, social development, poverty alleviation and education.
Mr Osman concluded: “It is our fervent hope that with the advent of this IT equipment, this school will be better able to adequately prepare learners and others from the community in the vital and wondrous ways of information technology.”
ends
For more information about SAMCT or its As-Salaam Private School IT donation, please contact: Rasheeda Motala: Social Responsibility Co-ordinator – Tel: +27 31 364 9183.