MAKWARELA - Mphaphuli Secondary School on Friday received a multimedia centre valued at R350 000 from the MTN Foundation.

The Managing Director of MTN, Mr Maanda Manyatshe, said the centre is part of the R21 million MTN Schools Connectively project launched in 2002, to improve the quality of education and increase access to information and communication technologies (ICT) in disadvantaged schools.

He further said the center is equipped with computers, a 3-in-1 printer, scanner and photo copy machine, a GPRS modem for the MTN network to provide faster access to the Internet, a TV, VCR and satellite decoder and dish. He said the Foundation works with service providers like Johnnic Learning, Mindset and Microsoft South Africa, all of whom provide quality interactive education materials and software.

Manyatshe announced that Tshiemuemu High School at Tshakhuma would also benefit from the programme. Both schools would also receive an MTN phone shop that will generate income for the schools to maintain and upgrade the equipment, thereby ensuring the sustainability of the multimedia centres.

Manyatshe was recently the appointed MD of MTN South Africa. He matriculated at Mphaphuli High in 1975 and worked as assistant superintendent at the Herberg Hospital in the former Venda homeland in 1976 before going to study at Fort Hare University. He returned to Venda in 1986 as a senior lecturer at the University of Venda.

“Learners in many other schools benefiting from our programme will gain skills that will help them now and in future when they are in tertiary education and formal employment, an opportunity and privilege that my peers and I did not enjoy,” Manyatshe said.

Premier Sello Moloto said he expected the multimedia centre to be one of those that the province would rely on to produce advanced scientists in various fields. “It is from this center where potential and future miners, farmers and tourism experts should be developed. We give more emphasis to mining, tourism and agriculture as they are pillars of our economy,” Moloto said.

“More importantly, the center should serve as a convenient one-stop service center aimed at providing nearby communities with vital services and information on their rights and obligations as citizens, particularly in the area of technology,” Moloto said.

One hundred multimedia centers have been created in schools identified jointly with the provincial Departments of Educations throughout the country, benefiting at least 200 000 learners from those and neighboring schools. Other Limpopo schools that have benefited from MTN’s schools Connectivity programme include Molabosane, Bokgakga, Dumela, Elim, Hlalukweni, Mokomene, Mananedzi, Kheto Nxumayo, Dan School, Gaiso, Ripambeta and Rivubye High Schools.

The school principal, Mr Lufuno Mulaudzi said he is over the moon that his school was chosen as a beneficiary of the MTN Schools Connectivity project and also excited about the future prospects a center like this will open for our learners. There are 1 209 learners and 35 educators at Mphaphuli High School.