Primedia Cares helps bridge the digital divide in underprivileged communities

CAPE TOWN - The minister of basic education has reiterated her stance that children cannot be left behind in a fast-evolving digital world.  

Minister Siviwe Gwarube was speaking at the Forest Village Leadership Academy in Eerste River, Cape Town on Friday.

The school received 200 smart learning devices, donated by Primedia Cares to help bridge the digital divide in under privileged communities.  

Primedia Broadcasting’s Chief Content Officer Mzo Jojwana said, “The underpinning philosophy here is that we are corporate citizens that actually care. And we always want to give back to the communities that serve us. These are our audiences, and that's why it's important to us. We've also established actually that there's a greater need actually that technology can play in developing young children in this country.”  

Principal of the school, Wendy Philander said the devices will help give the pupils a much-need confidence boost.

“I think first of all it's going to mean just more children in our school has access to coding and robotics because right now we're only managing to fit in one class per week so the time that they'll be able to spend on the devices is just going to be multiplied. More children are going to be able to get into the lab.”