Narrowing the digital divide between rural and urban schools

Narrowing the digital divide between rural and urban schools

April 25, 2016 • Air, News, Transport

Driekoppies, Limpopo Province, South Africa – 25 April 2016. Deputy Transport Minister, Sindisiwe Chikunga, has officially handed over an Air Traffic and Navigation Services (ATNS) SOC Limited sponsored Information and Communications Technology (ICT) infrastructure to the Limpopo Provincial Education Department in Driekoppies, Limpopo today.

ATNS has provided an ICT computer library and built a strong room – for the safe storage of computer note-books, equipped with the latest educational software at Selowe Primary School. At the nearby Ramohlakana High School, the company has also sponsored a brand new Science Center. The Centre houses an ICT library and a Science Laboratory.

Delivering her well-crafted speech during the handing-over ceremony, Deputy Minister Chikunga said government is committed to strengthening South Africa’s education system, knowledge dissemination, information access, and quality and effective learning with science, technology and innovation. “We are geared to ensuring that our technology is used to close disparities and enable quality learning” she concluded.

ATNS CEO Thabani Mthiyane (see attached image) says the company has aligned its CSI strategy with the Human Resources Development Strategy and National Development Plan – to guide the development of skills and knowledge within communities, in the process addressing the twin societal challenges affecting South Africa, poverty and unemployment. “We done with this with the sole intent of enhancing the efficiency and productivity of both teaching and learning” he concluded.

The dawn of the twenty-first century has seen a number of technological developments which has an impact in almost every aspect of our daily lives. The ever-increasing use of Information and Communications Technology (ICT) in our workplaces, sport environment, institutions of learning and in the social sphere attests to this phenomena. In the aviation industry we have Communication, Navigation and Surveillance equipment – that enable Air Traffic Controllers to talk to Pilots – in real time, to allow for the safe movement of air traffic across the globe.

ATNS has provided similar ICT Infrastructure in remote rural schools in Kwa-Zulu Natal, Northern Cape and Mpumalanga Provinces – in the past year.

Photo: L-R: ATNS CSI Manager, Tebogo Mokgejane; Mayoral Representative of the Capricorn District Municipality, Cllr Patricia Mahlo; Mayor of Blouberg Municipality, Cllr Sammy Selamolela; Deputy Minister of Transport, Sindisiwe Chikunga and ATNS CEO, Thabani Mthiyane

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ATNS Narrowing the digital divide between rural and urban schools