Look out Krugersdorp, the next generation of coders and robotics geniuses might just be from a local high school that’s curating new courses to give students access to a future they can build:
Krugersdorp, South Africa (17 September 2023) — In preparation for a near future where coding and robotics knowledge are suspected to become less niche and more in demand, schools and education institutions need to give their students as many opportunities as possible to benefit from the tech revolution.
The South African Government has started to emphasise the importance of access to coding and robotics skills by working on establishing these into the standard basic education curriculums from pre-primary school levels to high school standards. While some curriculums are already in their pilot phase, others (like high school levels) are still in the works.
But without access to the tech necessary to unleash the next generation of tech gurus, all the agendas in the world can’t go very far. Big tech companies and institutions now have more of a responsibility than ever to pay the way forward for young South Africans.
Opting to give students a good chance for the future of the future like the Tuks Robot School, Krugersdorp High School has begun prepping for its robotics and coding era.
Thanks to donations from those in the tech industry, the school has been able to set up its own Robotics and Coding labs that will reportedly be able to benefit 90 learners, each with a PC.
“As robotics does not form part of the curriculum as yet and is not a recognised subject, we will be offering robotics and coding as an extra-curricular activity. To run for grades 8 and 9, after school for an hour twice a week,” says Lauren Jooste-Coetsee, Marketing Director at Krugersdorp High School.
The school is also in the process of training six teachers and a Department Head with a plan to kickstart the programme in its third term.
Will Krugersdorp become the Silicon Valley? Just as it is with the tech industry, anything is possible.
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