MTN SA Foundation Invests R6 Million In Customised Multimedia Centres
MTN SA Foundation Invests R6 Million In Customised Multimedia Centres. MTN SA Foundation invests R6 million in customised multimedia centres for special needs schools in KwaZulu-Natal. However, persistent load shedding, battery theft and vandalism remains a hurdle to digital learning.
MTN SA in partnership with the Department of Basic Education handed over three customised multimedia centres to schools for Learners with Special Educational Needs (LSEN) in KwaZulu-Natal. The R6 million investment will go towards connecting students at Day Dawn Special School, S Dass Special School and VN Naik Special School to a world of knowledge and opportunity.
Pupils and communities across KwaZulu-Natal and South Africa continue to benefit from the MTN Foundation’s rollout of multimedia centres, its MTN Online School e-learning platform, and other specialised digital support – but load shedding, battery theft and vandalism has a significant impact on network connectivity, holding learners back from accessing these opportunities to achieve academic progress.
“The handover of the multimedia centres is the next step in the MTN Foundation’s support of the communities of KwaZulu-Natal and eThekwini at large. While our main focus remains to help increase access to digital learning and improve academic performance, this is not possible without reliable access to connectivity and, through it, to data and information,” says Arthur Mukhuvha, General Manager at the MTN SA Foundation.
“During periods when load shedding is at stages 1 or 2, which allows for MTN backup batteries to recharge, one might expect that access to the network would continue, but criminals are still vandalising towers and stealing batteries, which means that students can’t fully utilise the multimedia centres or e-learning platforms even when the power is on,” continues Mukhuvha.
