The newly-built computer centre at the Efata School for the Blind and Deaf in Mthatha will not only contribute towards the education of the pupils, but will also increase their chances of succeeding later in life.
Deputy minister of social development, Hendrietta Bogopane-Zulu, who is partially blind, said exposing children with disabilities to information and communication technology (ICT) at an early stage gives them an advantage should they pursue further education or when they enter the workplace.
“ICT centres not only make learning easier but giving a disabled child access to a computer at an early age means they will not be intimidated when they get to varsity. That environment is already so frustrating but if they are able to do the basics on a computer like any other person, we erase the perception that disabled people cannot contribute to society, the earlier the exposure the better equipped they are,” said Zulu.
There are two ICT centres at the school both established by the department in partnership with the MTN Foundation. However, Zulu said the centre for the blind pupils was not ready to be launched because the technicians were still waiting to load specialised software that had been ordered from overseas.
She took the media and parents around the centre for the deaf and explained that the teacher had a webcam connected to all the computers.
Zulu also explained that the blind ICT centre would be able to photocopy any text book and turn it into braille.
Khusile Mthunzi-Hairwadzi, MTN Foundation’s general manager, said they wanted to show that technology could enable children with disabilities by integrating them into society which they are part of.
The ICT centres for Efata cost R1.5-million together.
She said MTN would also provide data and on-site training for the next 24 months...