For the learners at Voortuitsig Intermediate School in Upington, Northern Cape, the launch of the school’s STREAM laboratory opens up an exciting new learning pathway in the tech world. The fully-equipped 4iR classroom accommodating 40 learners is the latest in Sakhikamva Foundation’s roll-out of specialised tech laboratories in schools serving under-resourced communities.
It is the first STREAM classroom established in the Northern Cape Province to promote Science, Technology, Robotics, Engineering, Aerospace and Mathematics learning in schools and prepare learners for the modern world of work that is indivisible from the digital realm. The launch of the STREAM laboratory at Voortuitsig Intermediate comes just ahead of the roll-out of the new South African coding & robotics curriculum which recognises that computer science, computer programming and languages need to be components of a basic education.
The STREAM laboratory at Voortuitsig Intermediate school is made possible through Sakhikamva Foundation’s partnership with sponsor Software AG. Their Transformation Director, Ndazi Nokoane says, “In line with our commitment to uplifting communities and bringing access to technology, the STREAM lab at Voortuitsig Intermediate is the third 4iR classroom we have supported with Sakhikamva Foundation. Overall, Software AG together with other partners, has built and supported 9 labs around South Africa since 2020. We believe that it is vital that these Northern Cape learners are able to get hands-on with latest technologies and have the chance to build critical problem-solving and innovation skills that will empower them to become future change-makers and innovators in their community.”
The internet-connected STREAM laboratory at Voortuitsig Intermediate is fully equipped with tablets and drones and includes AI, robotics and app development software, enabling learners to explore and experiment with the latest technologies that are driving all aspects of the modern world. Mr Basie Mathane, the Director of GET Curriculum at the Northern Cape Department of Education says, “We are delighted that Sakhikamva Foundation and Software AG have brought this fantastic 21st Century learning laboratory to our learners here in Upington, which is the commercial hub of our province. They will be able to have a unique hands-on experience of technologies that are transforming all sectors of human endeavour including agriculture. The exceptional resources offered by the STREAM lab will inspire learners’ curiosity and ignite learning in Maths and Science, as well as Technology. This will help prepare our learners for the real world of work and enable them to think differently, and more expansively about their futures.”
With the opening of its STREAM laboratory, Voortuitsig Intermediate School has been brought into the Sakhikamva Foundation family, and its educators will be supported in optimising the learning resources. Principal, Thelma Beukes says, “Our new lab represents a giant leap for our school community, opening up new opportunities for our children to succeed in subjects like Maths and Science, while also empowering them to learn about technology and engineering in ways that have not been possible for them before. Their learning experiences in the lab will enable them to develop vital skills such as creative and critical thinking. They will realise the value of good teamwork and see for themselves how important innovation is, how it can change lives for the better and how they too, can be part of the efforts to improve lives and livelihoods in their own Northern Cape communities. We are grateful to our Partners for Possibility representative in the Northern Cape, Cobra Röhm for setting us on this exciting journey by connecting our school with the Sakhikamva Foundation and Software AG.”
Through its establishment of STREAM laboratories at under-served schools, as well as a variety of other STEM-enriched programmes and projects, the Sakhikamva Foundation has reached more than 150 000 South African learners. Founder, Fatima Jakoet says, “Bringing a STREAM lab to the Northern Cape for the first time is a significant milestone for the Sakhikamva Foundation. We believe that when it comes to enabling South African youth to develop 4iR skill-sets, no one should be left behind. We are delighted that these learners and their teachers in Upington are now going to have a quality tech space to explore, discover, create and learn the skills that are essential in 21st Century life.”
