ADVERTORIAL MTN SA FOUNDATION
The promise
of technology in education
Changing the way we teach
and learn: MTN implements their first ICT Hubs
Despite sustained investment in South Africa’ s basic education system, the country continues to grapple with deep-rooted challenges stemming from inequality and historical disadvantage. These include poor learning outcomes, particularly in literacy and numeracy, inadequate school infrastructure, high dropout rates, teacher shortages and inconsistent teacher training. Against this backdrop, providing quality education for all learners remains a complex and pressing challenge.
Technology holds significant promise in addressing some of these systemic issues. However, for any Information and Communication Technology( ICT) intervention to be effective, it must be implemented with a clear understanding of the realities facing South African schools, particularly those that are under-resourced and located in rural communities.
While national policies supporting ICT integration in education exist, implementation across provinces and schools remains uneven. Connectivity and infrastructure gaps persist, and many schools lack the basic resources required to embed digital technology meaningfully into teaching and learning. In addition, although teacher digital skills are improving, a large proportion of educators still lack the confidence and training needed to integrate technology effectively in the classroom.
Evidence suggests that where ICT integration has been successful, it is often driven by strong school leadership and well-managed institutions. This highlights the importance of a holistic approach – one that combines infrastructure, connectivity, content, and skills development rather than treating technology as a standalone solution.
In response, the MTN SA Foundation revised its corporate social investment strategy in alignment with the MTN Group’ s Ambition 2025 strategy, which aims to lead digital solutions for Africa’ s progress. Central to this approach is MTN’ s belief that everyone deserves the benefits of a modern, connected life, and that digital inclusion must translate into sustainable developmental impact.
Education is a national priority for South Africa, and the integration of ICT into teaching and learning is a key focus area for the Foundation.