A learning experience all round

WHEN MIB Technology began working in rural KwaZulu-Natal 16 years ago, it “just wasn’t possible to consider using broadband to power learning solutions for schools”, said Vivian Naidoo, the company’s owner. “So the idea was born to use a Wi-Fi hot spot.”

For the Boksburg project, the company also had to find appropriate devices that had, for example, the right battery life and were affordable.

“The research and development was quite expensive,” said Naidoo. But vendors and manufacturers allowed the company to pass on any price benefits to Sunward Park High School.

“Mostly, the content has been supplied by open education resources, but the three biggest players — Learning Channel, Learnthings Africa and Mindset Learn — have now become involved with fully digital content.”

The process also transformed the technology company.

“MIB has grown R50-million in business out of this project,” said Naidoo. “Because it’s simply impossible for one company to monitor and maintain systems in schools around the country, our model is to go into the community and train and share skills with entrepreneurs, who then look after and service the equipment once it’s installed.

“In total, Sunward Park spent R2.4-million between the parents and the school, and I expect they’ll get that money back in savings. We didn’t realise how much they would be saving — it’s affordable for any school. It gets resources into kids’ hands and the knowledge economy in South Africa needs this.

“The Department of Basic Education is keen. We’re demonstrating to them nationally and they’re recognising us for aggregating educational resources under one roof,” said Naidoo. —