Driving skills revolution for future
Foundation steps up to help pupils acquire ability in maths, science
Without maths and science, school-leavers can forget about becoming citizens of the fourth Industrial Revolution (FIR), but Professor Wiseman Nkuhlu, chair of Datatec Foundation, is determined to give thousands of underprivileged children a realistic shot at propriety.
Siemens, the industry, energy and healthcare group, recently published a survey on digitalisation in a wide range of business sectors.
The survey revealed that Africa should scoop an additional R4-trillion of the digitalisation pot by 2026, and that South Africa could get the biggest share, due to its latent potential to drive innovation.
The challenge is assisting pupils who will enter the workforce in the next two to six years, making them maths and science champions.
Benefiting from the FIR will require skills in robotics, virtual reality, artificial intelligence, and the “Internet of Things”, and the only way into these revolutionary concepts is through maths and science, an entry ticket that the foundation will assist in supplying.
The foundation has several initiatives to assist skilling the youth, resulting in both permanent employment and openings for youthful entrepreneurs. By supporting private educational initiatives, the foundation assists them in offering low-cost, high-quality computer-literacy training.
A direct result is reducing computer illiteracy and gearing previously disadvantaged youth to take their skills directly to the job market.
Jonathan Novotny, cofounder of Code4Change, said it is essential to introduce coding to secondary schools, and his NGO is using Datatec funding to achieve the aim.
“We teach IT and coding skills. It is the future. Coding is a language, an essential skill that enables individuals to create software, apps and websites. Every industry needs code. It opens their worlds to so many possibilities.”
Datatec’s aim, through its NGO funding, is to focus learners on maths and science, said Wilna de Villiers, Datatec marketing and communications manager.
The foundation has assisted 4,300 pupils and 500 teachers, the latter directly affecting over 100,000 pupils.
“Only half of the 500,000 learners writing National Senior Certificate in 2018 attempted maths, and only a third wrote sciences. Many pupils do not realise how important these subjects are to further their careers. In addition, the majority of them lack the skills to pass these subjects.”
Datatec has supported the Kutlwanong Centre for 12 years. Founder, Tumelo Mabitsela said his organisation has helped 19,939 pupils to conquer the fear of maths and science, and many have gone on to successful careers in engineering and information and communications technology.
“Skilled professionals boost our country’s ability to compete and exploit ICT opportunities. This is a game-changer for South Africa’s social and economic prosperity,” says Mabitsela.
Other Datatec supported programmes include Tomorrow Trust, the OLICO Foundation, the Vula Programme, and Afrika Tikkun, all of them organisations that will propel astute learners into the next industrial revolution.
Only half of the 500,000 learners writing National Senior Certificate in 2018 attempted maths