Eastern Cape-born rugby star Siya Kolisi isn’t just a winner on the field. In a partnership announced today, 7 August 2019, with iSchoolAfrica and iStore, the iSchoolAfrica iPad programme will be brought to his own former primary school.
This will include the roll-out of a mobile iPad lab, curriculum apps, ongoing teacher training and the monitoring of results at Emsengeni Primary School Zwide, Port Elizabeth.
“Rugby gave me hope growing up and I want to give the same to young South Africans by providing opportunities to help them find their passion and fulfil their potential,” Kolisi said.
“My journey began at this primary school and its why I want to start with changing lives here by introducing world-class technology like the Apple iPad. My dream is to provide more opportunities for our youth to realise that whether they live in the suburbs or a township, they can be anyone they want to be.”
Since 2009, the iSchoolAfrica programme, has brought educational technology and classroom best practices to more than 240 rural and township schools through the investment of corporate sponsors.
The iPad lab consists of 20 Apple iPads in a mobile carry case which can be moved from classroom to classroom. The lab is pre-loaded with apps aligned to the South African curriculum, has one plug point to charge all iPads simultaneously and can be locked away securely in the school safe.
An iSchoolAfrica facilitator has been appointed to train and work closely with the teachers to ensure the technology can be used effectively in the classroom. A teacher will also be selected to be an iSchoolAfrica champion and will receive ongoing training in order to support their colleagues and ensure sustainability of the programme.
In addition to appointing an iSchoolAfrica champion, Kolisi will act as an ongoing mentor at the school and to the iSchoolAfrica programme.
“iSchoolAfrica celebrates 10 years of proven success this year and we are extremely proud to be in 240 schools, have trained 3000 teachers and have changed the lives of over 100 000 learners,” said Michelle Lissoos, Director at iSchoolAfrica.
“We are very excited to be working with a mentor like Siya and to partner with iStore again, to achieve the vision we all have to improve the futures of South African youth.”
This is the fourth school that iStore has invested in sponsoring through the iSchoolAfrica programme. Otherr sponsors include the Department of Rural Development and Land Reform, Exarro and Growthpoint.
“Apple iPad is the chosen educational tool for schools around the world and iSchoolAfrica is a way for us to invest in a sustainable programme for under-resourced schools in South Africa. We are thrilled to co- invest with Siya in this project and have him support as a mentor. We encourage other sponsors and mentors wanting to make a difference to teaching and learning to invest in the future of young South Africans through iSchoolAfrica,” said Chris Dodd, iStore CEO. – GeekWire.co.za
