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27 October 2025 | Story Sefako Mokhosoa | Photo Supplied
BANKSETA
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.

News Archive

New SRC Sport talks about campus pride
2014-10-21

Media Studies and Journalism student, Dominique de Gouveia, can attest to the fact that you need to take all the small steps before you make the giant leap.

As Residence Committee member for Sport since her first year, Dominique found the transition to the Student Representative Council (SRC) merely a case of now putting on the striped blazer. Having worked closely with Lourika Hugo, previous SRC Sport, there was not really much that she had to take grasp of.

“Our varsity has almost the same sport fixtures every year, so once you understand it, it should not be that difficult to follow through,” says Dominique confidently.

“You need to set goals in order to achieve them. I quickly realised that this is what I want to do. Sport is very big on our campus among the students and in my term I want other channels to realise the importance of sport.”

“The motto of previous SRC Sport, Tshepo Moli, was ‘transformation in sport’, which can indeed make a social impact on our varsity.”

“Through sport, our varsity can take pride in showing diversity.”

The variety of sports Dominique enjoys playing and watching, shows just how much she really loves what she is doing.

“My favourite sports have to be soccer and squash. But after watching the Varsity Netball this season, it made me wish that I had learnt how to play netball as far back as high school.”

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