Entrepreneur Tshegofatso Dladla Aims To Ensure All SA Children Gain Access To Tech-Based Learning Opportunities
Entrepreneur Tshegofatso Dladla Aims To Ensure All SA Children Gain Access To Tech-Based Learning Opportunities. With over a decade in the manufacturing industry, in 2018, Tshegofatso Dladla, an engineer, set out to ensure all South African children gain access to tech-based learning opportunities. The RST programme has taught ECD (early childhood development) and foundation phase learners across Gauteng, Mpumalanga and Limpopo. Its effectiveness has also attracted private and public schools, as it has been an additional extra mural activity offering.
While tutoring high school students’ math and science with her husband, she realized that they don’t have any interest and they don’t understand why they have to do it. In addition, they have a negative attitude towards the subjects. Thus, the Tshala Foundation was formed in 2018, an NPO that used coding and robotics to enhance children’s learning skills. This led to the birth of RoboSTEAM train. The company was founded to focus on primary school children and to equip educators with the skills to keep up with the 4IR curriculum.
While RoboSTEAM train is still in early stages, Tshego believes that over the next five years, RST will be in the forefront of coding and robotics education and products in Africa as it is in the process of creating its own educational aids and applications. RST’s efforts within the industry have earned it the privilege of being part of a number of accelerator and incubator programmes. Additionally, the company is also recipients of a grant from Injini Africa. Its work has reached over 500 learners and aims to stretch over to 10000 by 2030.
The company combines Science, Technology, Engineering, the Arts and Mathematics to encourage and support the schooling process. This equips children with skills to navigate a dynamic and rapidly advancing technological world.
- Robotics Club – This is a 24-week robotics and coding course that forms part of daily learning. To fit the educational needs of the specific institution, language and learning aids are adapted.
- Train the TrainerA – A 1 week program where educators are taught how to use coding and robotics to teach different foundation phase subjects.
- Games and Teaching Aids – The company creates screenless board games that both teachers and parents can use to aid learning. Ideal for children aged five and older, it’s an electricity-free way to connect to learning.
- School Extra Curricular Activities – Private and public schools invite RST as an additional option for after-school learning. It works with the school to best accommodate the needs of all students participating.
Tshego’s work has also been featured on Lioness of Africa and has Nunnovation Africa Foundation, Flying for Life and Thungela Mine, as partners.
