• MTN South Africa is investing R6 million to provide three special needs schools in KwaZulu-Natal with multimedia centres.
• The telecom adds that loadshedding and vandalism in the province have negatively impacted how learners gain access to academic material online.
• MTN is spending billions to ensure that its towers remain operational during blackouts.

The latest effort from telecom MTN South Africa in its country-wide digital skills and education drive will see three schools that teach special needs learners receive internet-connected multimedia centres through a partnership with the Department of Basic Education (DBE).

Located in KwaZulu-Natal (KZN), learners at Day Dawn Special School, S Dass Special School and VN Naik Special School will be able to reap the benefits of desktop computers and more as part of a R6 million investment from MTN.

The province’s most rural schools, under the DBE, have struggled to maintain student numbers. Over 900 schools across KZN will be shut down or merged as many have almost zero enrollment.

“The handover of the multimedia centres is the next step in the MTN Foundation’s support of the communities of KwaZulu-Natal and eThekwini at large. While our main focus remains to help increase access to digital learning and improve academic performance, this is not possible without reliable access to connectivity and, through it, to data and information,” explains Arthur Mukhuvha, general manager at the MTN SA Foundation. 

In a press release sent to Hypertext, MTN says that digital support for learners in the province has been significantly affected by loadshedding, as well as theft and vandalism at its network infrastructure which hampers access to the internet and academic resources found therein.

“During periods when load shedding is at stages 1 or 2, which allows for MTN backup batteries to recharge, one might expect that access to the network would continue, but criminals are still vandalising towers and stealing batteries, which means that students can’t fully utilise the multimedia centres or e-learning platforms even when the power is on,” continues Mukhuvha.

To stave off the negative effects of the country’s energy crisis, MTN says it has invested billions in diesel for generators at its towers, as well as for ramped-up security. On Thursday, the company announced that it would be launching a renewable energy generation project to begin reducing its loadshedding burden.

“The handover of the multimedia centres is the next step in the MTN Foundation’s support of the communities of KwaZulu-Natal and eThekwini at large. While our main focus remains to help increase access to digital learning and improve academic performance, this is not possible without reliable access to connectivity and, through it, to data and information,” Mukhuvha adds.

“At the moment nothing is more important than safeguarding our network as an increasing number of South Africans turn to mobile internet for work, for business, education, staying connected to loved ones, and for accessing emergency services.”

Mukhuvha concludes that MTN remains committed to contributing meaningfully to helping alleviate the adverse impact of loadshedding in the country.

[Image – Provided]