Vodacom and Gauteng Education join for R2 million boost at special needs school – Hypertext

The Usizolwethu Special Needs School in Daveyton in Gauteng has seen an investment of R2 million to push forward the “School of Excellence” model, a new project from Vodacom’s charitable arm, Vodacom Foundation and the Gauteng Department of Education.

Learners at the school will be provided with “ICT equipment, including a fully installed local area network (LAN) with special needs equipment, renovated learning labs, and a secure storage facility,” says Vodacom in an announcement.

Reliable internet connectivity will be established at the school, as well as a solar power solution to improve energy resilience and even a vegetable garden.

“The School of Excellence is a core pillar of Vodacom’s comprehensive, multi-layered education ecosystem, launched in 2019 in support of the government’s Education Vision 2030,” it explained.

“This integrated strategy aligns with the government’s ambition to promote academic excellence and ensure equitable, inclusive access to quality education for learners from disadvantaged communities.”

According to the Foundation, the model supports around 40 000 learners across 39 different schools in South Africa. Each of the schools has been handpicked and is located alongside an Early Childhood Development Centre, a Teacher Centre, and a Vodacom ICT Academy.

The foundation has invested more than R40 million so far in its efforts to expand its School of Excellence project and has accelerate the installation of “fully equipped, connected centres, major infrastructure upgrades, and enhanced safety and sanitation at beneficiary schools.”

“The infrastructure, connectivity, and support systems implemented by Vodacom with the support of the Gauteng Education Department will greatly enrich our teaching and learning environment, preparing our students to thrive in an increasingly digital world,” enthused Nombulelo Skosana, Principal of Usizolwethu Special Needs School.

In February, the foundation revealed that it has invested over R300 000 in donations from Vodacom users into the Tanga Senior Secondary school, found in deep rural Eastern Cape. The school received a refurbished computer lab, and its pit latrines were replaced with proper ablution facilities.