The Tuks Robot School sees students put on their teaching caps and pass on skills (like how to build robots) to high schoolers from townships and underprivileged schools who might never have known they could be the next-best engineer in SA.
Tshwane, South Africa (31 August 2023) — Between AI, robotics and everything else that’s jumped straight out of a Sci-Fi film and into our world, conversations around who these tech developments benefit (and how) become all important. For many, career opportunities part of the tech revolution feel inaccessible. The people who build robots ‘come from fancy schools and colleges’, say many mindsets. But students from the University of Pretoria and the non-profit Keep That Gold Shining are changing this mindset!
Part of The Tuks Robot School founded in 2021 UP students from the Department of Electrical, Electronic and Computer Engineering get the chance to put on their teaching caps and transfer their skills to high school students from underprivileged schools; sparking inspiration in potential future engineers, and showing them that they too can build robots, create great tech and flex engineering muscles.
Grade 8 to 11 students from Mamelodi, Hammanskraal, Winterveld and Atteridgeville among others got to experience the Robot School curriculum.
They learned about coding and robots among lots of other skills, and for some, the engineering bug has already bitten.
“For eight weeks I learned about how engineers create things and I witnessed how coding, architecture and technology create very useful things,” shared Thato Mathou (14) from Makgetse Secondary School.
Thato adds:
“This programme has definitely made me want to study computer engineering. I cannot wait!”
“We started this initiative because we found that many learners in the remote areas of our communities do not think about studying engineering,” said Professor Tania Hanekom, EECE Function Head of Undergraduate Studies. “They look at it as a career for learners who come from privileged schools. We created this platform to say, ‘No, let us show you that you can not only touch one of these robots – you can also create one!’
“We inspire learners to think about engineering as a career because we have a lot of potential in South Africa that we are not using, which is sad. We need all those learners to study towards careers in STEM disciplines and help develop South Africa to its full potential.”
Further, the students who are most keen can move to more advanced robotics programmes that see UP’s Robot School, Sensor School and Drone School team up.
“Within the context of the fourth industrial revolution, information and communications technology and robotics are careers that offer good job security,” adds Matthew Beekman, KTG Chief Information Officer and UP computer engineering student.