A KwaZulu-Natal school has received a state-of-the-art solar-powered computer lab. The project, the brainchild of Durban-based company Give IT Back, was put together with Airports Company SA (Acsa) and King Shaka International Airport and cost R500 000. By Kaveel Singh, NewsAgency
Buffelsdale Secondary School in Tongaat, north of Durban, will house the computer lab.
Pupil Colette Govender, 14, said it was a “great opportunity” to learn computer skills.
“The school did not have this facility before. We are looking forward to exciting lessons. I feel this skill of using the computer will make me more marketable in the job market. It will also help me obtain more recent and up-to-date information.”
Principal Dr S Singh said the facility would add a new dimension to teaching and learning.
“Technology will allow for more creative lessons. We can use video clips to enhance learning. The opportunities are endless, and we are excited as a school and grateful to Acsa and Give IT Back for this gift.”
Acsa spokesperson Colin Naidoo said the lab was in a 12m shipping container and had all the features of a standard computer lab, including a file server, print server, and an administrator to remotely view and control all PCs in the lab.
It could operate for 7 hours before it needed charging and accommodated 20 pupils. It had 3G internet access and a remote access camera for security.
King Shaka International Airport general manager Terence Delomoney said the project would benefit the pupils.
“The computer lab is for the use of the learners as they become part of the technology world around them. In this day and age it was very difficult to accept that this school did not have access to computers yet they have such impeccable results and still strives to improve”. – News24
