By Kabelo Abel Mokgalabone
LENYENYE-Communications and Digital Technology Minister, Stella Ndabeni-Abrahams officially opened a state – of – the – start Vexospark Tzaneen Digital College for the public at Lenyenye township in the Greater Tzaneen Municipality on Thursday afternoon.
The initiative is aimed at taking digital technology to rural communities as part of efforts to close the digital gender divide.
The college will offer courses including amongst others Robotics and Coding for learners from Pre-school to Grade 9, Design Thinking for learners from Grade 5 to Grade 12, and digital library for all school learners.
Speaking to Tzaneen Voice during the opening of the R1. 5 Million facilities, funded by the Government of Flanders ( Flemish Region of Belgium ), which is situated outside Ramalema Junior and Lenyenye Senior Primary Schools, Minister Ndabeni-Abrahams said the country needs to invest in the digital economy for its economic standing in the global world.
“(The) President recently announced that the only way to improve our economy is through investment in the digital economy and the fact of it is the vision for digital skills”. Ndabeni-Abrahams acknowledged.
Delegates came in numbers to witness the Official Opening
She further added that in the President’s announcement he mentioned how young children should be involved at a tender age. “We came here with our partners to access the four and nine-year-olds, introducing them to robotics, coding, and some other going for cybersecurity classes, while others are going for basic computer skills and this is part of what we are saying if South Africa is going to improve it has to invest in human capital development,” Ndabeni-Abrahams concluded.
The Mayor of Greater Tzaneen Municipality, Councilor Maripe Mangena said that the College will empower people in rural areas.
“We are launching this initiative to empower people knowledgeable people from rural areas. The world is gravitating towards the Fourth Industrial Revolution and people should take advantage of such initiatives that will help them understand the use of technology.” Mangena highlighted.
