The changes and disruptions in the academic calendar resulting from the Covid-19 pandemic have caused great confusion for both teachers and learners, and with the new rotation system implemented by the Department of Education, most learners can now only attend school every second week.
Khuliso Muvhango, President of Muvex ICT from Tshavhalovhedzi Sendeza in Nzhelele, has offered a solution to this interference in children's education - a 'digital classroom' that will help learners attend class wherever they are.
Muvex ICT is a company that aims to simplify education through mobile technology. They have already identified 30 schools in Limpopo and will be assisting them soon. Learners will also be given SIM cards to allow them access to the system for free. "Our dream is to roll it out countrywide in the near future," Muvhango said.
He wants to make education "fashionable" for learners. "My goal is to make education more appealing and accessible to learners through the use of mobile technology and by making digital classrooms available to schools for free. This technology will allow and assist educators and learners to continue schooling, even if they can't go to class."
Nhlanhla Kunene, a teacher at Benny's Care Academy outside Louis Trichardt, said the digital classroom would make things a lot easier for teachers during the pandemic. "Catching up with the syllabus at this time is difficult. With the digital classroom we've seen things improve, as we can interact with the kids even if they are at home," Kunene said.
Mpho Ramabulana, a Grade 10 learner at Mphephu Secondary School in Nzhelele, admitted that learning has not been easy over the past few months. "We are under a lot of pressure and with so little time to catch up on everything. I think the digital classroom thing can work, because we will be able to attend anytime, anywhere."