NATIONAL NEWS - Access to robotics, coding and digital learning is being introduced for the first time at Joe Slovo Engineering High School in Khayelitsha through a newly established lab by the Shoprite Foundation. 

The Western Cape now joins the Foundation’s national programme focused on technology-driven and future-focused skills development.

Launched on 8 May with South African Minister of Basic Education Siviwe Gwarube in attendance, the new robotics lab is equipped with robotics kits, microcontrollers, laptops and sensors and combines hands-on and digital learning to take students from foundational coding through to robotics design and programming.

“Joe Slovo Engineering High School is a STEM-focused school, making it an ideal environment to further develop learners’ technical abilities through hands-on experience,” says Maude Modise, Director of the Shoprite Foundation. 

“In a community where learners are highly capable but have limited access to advanced resources, our aim is to expand what is possible inside the classroom by bringing engineering, coding and artificial intelligence into the learning environment,” adds Modise.

According to Modise, a 2023 study published in Sensors supports this finding, showing that sustained access to robotics education can increase students’ aspirations to pursue technical careers – such as engineering and artificial intelligence – by 32%.

“If we are to transform our continent’s demographic advantage into a true growth engine, we must ensure that Africa’s young people are equipped with the skills, knowledge, and abilities they need to thrive in a rapidly evolving global economy,” said Minister Gwarube.

At Joe Slovo High School specifically, coding and robotics are included in the formal timetable for Grades 8 and 9, covering computational reasoning, programming and electronics, with assessments contributing to learners’ academic records. 

For Grades 10 to 12, at the same school, the programme runs after school and introduces advanced concepts such as artificial intelligence, system design and Internet of Things (IoT) applications.

Sifiso EdTech, Shoprite Foundation’s implementation partner, leads the programme by managing setup, equipment, curriculum-aligned content and teacher training. 

Their ongoing support ensures the lab is continuously integrated into daily teaching and learning, while also leveraging their expertise in delivering education technology solutions.

“When you walk into the lab, learners are actively building, testing and refining projects,” says Xoliswa Mahlangu, Head of Digital Learning and Technology at Sifiso EdTech. “The impact is immediate and transformative. Learners show increased engagement and confidence. They begin to see themselves as creators of technology rather than passive users,” she says.

Established in the early 2000s as part of efforts to expand access to secondary education in Khayelitsha, Joe Slovo Engineering High School has grown into one of the area’s most notable academic institutions with a continued focus on strong academic outcomes, achieving recent matric pass rates of up to 99%.

“The introduction of a robotics lab represents an important step in building on this foundation and we welcome partnerships, such as our collaboration with the Shoprite Foundation, that help us close the opportunity gap and expand what is possible for our learners,” says Sityhilelo Ntamo, principal of Joe Slovo Engineering High School.

To date, the Shoprite Foundation has established six labs across the Eastern Cape, Mpumalanga, KwaZulu-Natal and the Western Cape. Later this month the Foundation will open its seventh lab in South Africa and its first in Gauteng (Soweto), in partnership with the Trevor Noah Foundation.

Back, l-r: Pupils - Minenthle Ngweni, Lultho Daniso, Maude Modise (Director of the Shoprite Foundation), Alulutho Mnyobe, Anam Kalman, Kungawo Mkhalali, Xoliswa Mahlangu (Head of Digital Learning and Technology at Sifiso EdTech) and Lisolethu Fana

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