Jo’burg pupils get a boost from SA-developed education technology

A South African-developed education technology ecosystem is giving Grade 11 pupils in Johannesburg a much-needed boost in their preparations for matric.

Thanks to a sponsorship by Sandton-based ElectroMechanica – a switch gear, automation and energy management solutions provider – Grade 11 pupils at Sandtonview Combined School have been equipped with an ecosystem of ed-tech support developed by Odin Education.

At a handover at the school on February 17, the 116 pupils were each handed e-learning devices which were pre-loaded with learning platforms and 2GB of monthly data. ElectroMechanica is also sponsoring a digital rewards programme which encourages the pupils to get the most out of the technology exploring and engaging with the online learning resources available on Odin’s platform.

ED-TECH PARTNERS: Sandton-based ElectroMechanica is giving its neighbouring school, Sandtonview, a hand up with the inception of a new educational technology sponsorship for the Grade 11 class. At the recent handover of the e-learning devices were (from left) Dean Gurney of ed-tech provider Odin Education, Sandtonview headmaster Horatio Loff, pupils Angelique Naidoo and Khanyisa Selani, and ElectroMechanica’s Melissa Nobbs and Siphelele Mlotshwa.

The sponsorship also covers the costs of a full-time school liaison, who will provide training and support to teachers in order to assist them with the adoption of technology in their classrooms, to ensure the success of the programme and, ultimately, the pupils.

Last year, Sandtonview achieved a matric pass rate of 80.8%, and school principal Horatio Loff believes that, with the help of the Odin Education ecosystem, the school will continue its upward trajectory.

“Our learners come from a community that has a high poverty rate. With this partnership, it’s not just about giving them access to technology, but about enhancing the horizon of what they can become.”

Loff said sponsor ElectroMechanica was “right across the street” from the school and went out of its way to help give pupils a brighter future.

“We never before thought we could have this kind of technology, where learners can access it in their hands. It’s about time that we move on, and experience a better world, which will mean so much to our kids because they are learning better through technology.”

ElectroMechanica managing director Andrew Nobbs said the company was proud to be making a direct and sustainable impact within its own community, with the school situated less than a kilometre from its corporate head office.

“Our business is focused on meeting the needs of Industry 4.0 and the significant changes that have been wrought by the digital revolution. Our future leaders must be equipped to handle the demands of this new digital world – and it starts in the classroom.”

Nobbs said ElectroMechanica’s partnership with Odin Education aligned perfectly with the company values expressed in its slogan of “making connections, powering tomorrow”.

The head of Odin Education, Ajit Gopalakrishnan, said the ed-tech company was driven by the idea that, through education, every child could be connected with an ecosystem to better themselves, their communities and wider society.

“To extend our reach, we partner with South African corporates, like ElectroMechanica, who are seeking to make a greater social impact in their own communities by investing in the future of education. Because our ecosystem is data-driven, we can provide aggregated analytics that clearly demonstrates the real impact that their investment is making over time.”