iSchoolAfrica's digital learning initiative changes the lives of 100,000 learners

12 May 2021

iSchoolAfrica, a South African education initiative, has empowered more than 100,000 South African learners and 3,000 teachers in rural and township-based schools.

Operating across all nine provinces, with one of the world's best technology and classroom practices, the initiative helps schools overcome a lack of infrastructure and other essential resources, and improves their numeracy results by an average of 15%.

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With its focus on opening the potential of the online world and enabling a digital future for under-resourced communities, iSchoolAfrica partners with businesses like leading fibre provider Vuma and passionate individuals like Saray Khumalo, the first black African woman to summit Mt. Everest, to expand the reach of its life-changing projects.

"We owe our success to the partners, school leaders, communities, teachers, and learners who joined us on our journey to transform South Africa's education system," says Michelle Lissoos, executive director of iSchoolAfrica.

"We realise that we can bridge the education gap for learners by providing them with devices, data, and quality educational resources that uplift them to achieve greatness in the future.

Each of the schools in the iSchoolAfrica programme receives a digital library consisting of a secure mobile iPad lab containing 20 traded-in iPads, which can be moved from classroom to classroom without any complex infrastructure required.

Development, skills transfer

The labs allow learners to use the globally chosen education tools for schools, containing curriculum-aligned content and applications like the global award-winning OneBillion numeracy software. iSchoolAfrica also offers the #EveryoneCanCode curriculum – a full coding continuum for Grade 1-12 learners, from block-based coding to app development.

The devices also have powerful built-in assistive features to help children with disabilities such as autism, visual impairment, deafness, cerebral palsy, and dyslexia.

iSchoolAfrica’s initiative extends beyond technology and empowers teachers with South African Council for Educators (SACE) endorsed training and mentorship. An iSchoolAfrica facilitator specialising in education technology integration is also appointed to each school and works closely with teachers, ensuring ongoing professional development and skills transfer.

The programme has also trained more than 200 youth in journalism through the iSchoolAfrica press team programme and 200 youth as educational facilitators in their communities.

"We’re excited to be a part of this amazing initiative, providing free fibre connectivity that has made it possible for iSchoolAfrica to continue making an impact in under-resourced communities,” says Taylor Kwong, CSI Manager at Vuma. “These children have so much potential. All they need is access to the right resources and opportunities to give them a better chance of achieving their dreams in the future.”

Visit ischoolafrica.com to learn more about the iSchoolAfrica education initiative to pledge your support.