The Eastern Cape Department of Education (ECDOE) in partnership with MTN yesterday handed over 237 tablets to Ulwazi Senior Secondary School learners and the current Grade 12 top achievers in a bid to equip Grade 12 learners with the knowledge, skills, and access needed to effectively utilize tablets as learning, assessment, and communication tools, fostering critical thinking, problem-solving abilities and digital literacy.

These devices  will also enhance learner performance across all Grade 12 subjects and therefore contribute immensely towards the NSC results at the end of the year.

As part of the Digital Learning Transformation Initiative which aims at integrating technology into the classroom, boosting learner engagement and academic performance in quintile 1, 2, and 3 schools the initiative will move on to other schools.

"We are happy that the Department is putting e-Learning at the centre of teaching and these efforts are improving the quality of education within the Province “said Monde Sondaba who is the chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on Education in the Eastern Cape.

The donation of tablets is expected to have a lasting impact on learners, equipping them with the necessary skills to succeed in a digital world. Sivuyile Mdleleni, the regional manager for the Eastern Cape MTN public sector representative emphasized the importance of this initiative saying that in most cases learners face a lot of struggles when they get to universities because they are not familiar with technology. “By introducing them to digital tools at an early age we are bridging the gap and setting them up for success in their future academic plans” said Mdleleni.

The learners themselves were excited about the opportunities these tablets will bring as such Asanda Lugwebo, a 17-year-old grade 12 learner expressed her gratitude saying that the tablets will really help a lot. “I will advise my peers to be responsible and safeguard these tablets by asking our parents and teachers to help with storage so that we don’t lose them”.

Lindokuhle Ntlongweni, an 18-year-old grade 12 learner shared similar sentiments adding that the tablets will help a lot when it comes to assignments and school projects. “We are very thankful for this opportunity and for the Department to entrust us with such a huge responsibility of making sure that these tablets are passed to other learners while still in goog condition” said Ntlongweni.

Edmond Makhalima who is the Principal of the school thanked the Department and MTN for the tablets. "The content loaded in the tablets will reduce the workload for teachers, as they will no longer need to make multiple copies and engage in cut-and-paste tasks. Moreover, learners will now be able to access their notes from the comfort of their own homes."