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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.
Golden strains: Hansgeorg Schmeiser (flute) and Albie van Schalkwyk (piano)
2008-04-15
Hansgeorg Schmeiser – an Austrian flautist and Albie van Schalkwyk – a lecturer in piano at the UFS, captivated concert-goers on Thursday evening with a virtuoso performance. This was the second time that Hansgeorg has given a performance in Bloemfontein accompanied by Albie. Despite the Easter weekend and the holiday period, the concert was well supported by the public.
With his solid gold Muramatsu flute and a celebrated pianist before the keys plus a varied programme, the two artists had the audience poised on the edge of their seats – beginning with the Sonata in G minor by J.S. Bach and followed by Franz Schubert's Theme and Variations on Trock'ne Blumen for flute and piano. After the interval they performed the Sonata for flute and piano by Martinù – a composition that is seen as one of the most important 20th century works in the flute repertoire. Schmeiser's performance of the solo piece for flute by the Japanese composer Fukushima where modern playing techniques require the achievement on various tone colours and fluctuation intensity was especially impressive.
The demanding programme was concluded with the Hungarian Fantasy for flute and piano by Albert Franz Doppler. It was no surprise that the audience demanded the two back onto the stage for an encore for which they played the second movement (Siciliano) of J.S. Bach's Flute Sonant No. 2 in E minor.