MANGWENI, Mpumalanga – Two hundred learners at Silindokuhle Special School have received access to a state-of-the-art, fully equipped digital computer laboratory, a development aimed at advancing inclusive education for students with severe intellectual disabilities, including those who are deaf and visually impaired.
The initiative seeks to improve access to quality education, reduce inequality, and empower young people nationwide. Many learners interacted with a computer for the first time, expressing excitement and renewed hope for their academic futures. One learner highlighted a key benefit: “Now our question papers will be brailed for us so that we can be able to read ourselves,” noting that previously relying on teachers to read materials created disadvantages, especially when transitioning to university where such support is often unavailable. Another learner added that the lack of necessary gadgets had made learning “very difficult,” and expressed confidence that familiarity with these new resources would help them excel in higher education.
Parents welcomed the initiative. “We appreciate this as parents in the school so that our children can learn in a conducive environment. Even though they are blind, they are able to do anything. This will greatly help them,” a parent stated. “We are very thankful.”
Silindokuhle Special Needs School is among three schools in Mpumalanga to receive this specialized facility. A sponsor representative explained the tailored approach: “We got to see that braille that they read from and the sign language but when talking to the children we saw that there was a gap in the ICT arena where they didn’t have exposure to computers because the standard computers do not work well for them.” The sponsor has provided interactive whiteboards—equipped with cameras, touchscreens, and internet access—enabling one educator to teach multiple schools simultaneously. Additionally, a dedicated facilitator has been assigned to support learner instruction, with the sponsor also committing to ongoing maintenance and security for the laboratory.
An education department spokesperson affirmed the broader support framework: “What we are doing is also to assist the school in terms of its needs of physical resources through their post establishment that we assist them to recruit suitably qualified educators that are going to assist in the provision of quality education which is meant directly for the learners living with these conditions.”
Community members have been encouraged to help safeguard the school’s new assets. With these advancements, learners at Silindokuhle Special School are better equipped to overcome educational barriers and pursue academic achievement with greater independence and confidence.
