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27 October 2025
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Story Sefako Mokhosoa
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Photo Supplied
Ten Grade 12 learners from Mampoi Secondary School in Phuthaditjhaba.
On 1 October 2025, the Projects and Innovation Directorate in the Faculty of Education at the University of the Free State (UFS) proudly hosted a certificate ceremony to honour ten Grade 12 learners from Mampoi Secondary School in Phuthaditjhaba on the Qwaqwa Campus. These learners completed a Skills Development Initiative and Workshop Series focused on digital literacy and ICT skills – a programme designed to equip rural youth with the tools they need to thrive in a digital world.
The initiative, which ran from May to August 2025, was made possible through a strategic partnership with BANKSETA to bridge the digital divide in rural communities. The learners received hands-on training in essential digital tools. Each learner also received a tablet to support continued learning and personal growth beyond the classroom.
The Director of the office in the Faculty of Education, Dr Kwazi Magwenzi, stressed that digital skills promote independence and self-directed learning. “Grade 12 is a time when learners should manage their studies, meet deadlines, and explore their options,” she said. “Digital fluency supports that autonomy. It enables learners to use online research, interactive tools, e-learning, and collaboration platforms to make learning more effective, flexible, and aligned with their pace and style. In Grade 12, where the stakes are high – with exams, tertiary entrance, and career choices – this ability helps learners become more self-directed, confident, and equipped.”
The programme not only built learners’ confidence in using ICT tools for learning and communication but also prepared them for the technologically driven environments they will encounter in institutions of higher learning.
Beyond developing digital skills, the project offered learners valuable exposure to the university environment, as their training took place on campus. Inspired by the success of this pilot, the Faculty of Education now aims to expand the initiative to reach more schools and learners across the region. The vision is to scale up access to digital education and empower more young people in rural areas with the skills necessary for academic and professional success.
This ceremony marked the conclusion of a successful training programme and the beginning of a long-term commitment to digital empowerment and lifelong learning in rural communities.
Qwaqwa Campus Got Talent show rocks
2014-08-07
The Happy Feet trio are from the left: Matshediso Senkhane, Andile Mbuli and Lebo Mokoena.
Our Qwaqwa Campus Health and Wellness Centre truly believes in the all-round wellbeing of all Kovsies – and that laughter is the best medicine.
This was evident when the centre hosted the first ever UFS Qwaqwa Campus Got Talent show. In the various elimination rounds, students and staff had to showcase their various talents.
Competing acts got the crowd jumping with a variety of singing and dancing acts, provided insight and wisdom through poetry and roaring laughter from the comedy.
A panel of judges selected the top 10 acts. These groups will compete for the ultimate crown later in September. One of the acts that had the crowd captivated was the modern dance trio called Happy Feet. This energetic student act amazed the audience with their superbly choreographed moves that left everyone shouting for more.
“The response of the crowd during the show and when the winners were announced proved just how much fun everybody had. We surely are talented on this campus,” said Industrial Psychology student Cebelihle Mtshali, who was one of the judges.