BuaNews (Tshwane)
Thandi Mhangwana
19 October 2005
Tzaneen — Lekgale Ramalo steadily searches for and types letters one at a time on a computer keyboard.
Although typing a simple word document on her computer takes her longer than an average person, she is excited about her learning experience.
Ramalo is a Grade 11 learner at Mafutsane Secondary School at Rakoma Village, near Tzaneen.
School has ended for the day when we meet but she has remained behind to brush-up on her computer skills.
"I am happy to be learning how to use the computer, because once I finish high school I won't be disadvantaged, computers are now a part of everything," says a beaming Ramalo.
The school received a fully furnished computer lab funded by the Universal Service Agency (USA) in partnership with government communications, the GCIS, and through the lobbying of Bathlabine Rural Development Trust earlier this year.
Like many other learners in her school Ramalo had never seen or touched a real computer before, she had only read about it or seen it on TV.
"When these computers arrived here at our school, it was my first time to use a computer, and I can't tell you how great it feels to know that I too will be able to use one despite where I come from," she says with a smile.
Oupa Kgwahla, founder of the centre says he realized the need for a computer centre to serve both the learners and the community, as there was none available nearby.
"Our people travel long distances to access computer facilities or to learn how to operate computers, and we felt this had to change," he says .
"Most school around the area don't offer computer lessons and with the changing technology people have to acquire computer skills within their reach."
The facilities provided by USA include a building with 30 computers, tables, chairs, air conditioning, a server, a printer, a satellite dish and a TV set that is used for learning channels.
The centre started functioning in August and staff have received training through a twinning agreement between Khanya College in Johannesburg and the Canadian Government.
"Khanya College sent us students from Canada who came and taught us the basic skills in computers, and how to make our own newsletters, including the use of programmes such as Adobe Photoshop, compiling of news, editing, and layout," says Mr Kgwahla.
Mr Kgwahla says the centre has since compiled one newsletter with community news, and this was well received by the community.
"The first issue was free but we have realised that it is costly for us and we might have to sell the next issue," he explains.
"Technology is advanced and it is great that we have this centre because now our children can compete with other children on the same level once they leave this school," says Petrus Mmatlou who manages the after-school computer lessons.
Mr Mmatlou says if the computers had arrived earlier in the year, this would have helped learners who are doing matric.
A matric pupil, Phinias Lebebe, agrees.
"I'm happy we have computers at our school, but I do wish they had come in a little earlier, because then I would have learnt more," said Lebebe.
However some students like Ramalo are fortunate as they still have more time to continue learning.
"I'm glad I still have another year to learn and I know I will have learnt a lot by the time I finish my matric," she says before going back to her unfinished word document.
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