To many, robotic and computer coding are reserved for techies, geeks and sci-fi movies. Nowadays these terms are fast becoming the norm in society and households alike. There is no denying the fact that if we do not embrace this wave of change, we will be left behind while the world around us progresses at a rate we cannot comprehend.
Mixo Ngoveni, one of the co-founders of Geekulcha, agrees and added that we need to inspire the youth of South Africa to think beyond their classrooms, environments and households because the jobs of tomorrow will be created through science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) and will be very different to the traditional job roles that we know today.
“Artificial intelligence (AI) and robots are gradually being integrated into our world and I don’t mean that in a negative way,” Ngoveni says. “These platforms are reshaping the way we look at work, systems and even play. Behind the scenes of AI and robotics are human beings – we need to programme, code and engineer these platforms to do what we require.
“Our challenge is to instil and nurture a way of understanding of these platforms among our youth so that they are prepared for the jobs of tomorrow and a future that we cannot even begin to fathom.”
Geekulcha is an organisation which was spearheaded to create a platform for young, skilled and creative tech minds to connect with each other, share knowledge, collaborate on projects, network with industry leaders and to put newly acquired skills to work.
Established in March 2013 with a mandate to empower young minds through information and communication technology (ICT) skills development and training, Geekulcha now has over 11 200 techies and innovators across Africa.
According to Mixo, South Africa has a wealth of youngsters who have the hunger to learn but have minimal access to these tech platforms.
“Over the years I have witnessed incredible accounts of young people from underprivileged communities creating amazing solutions to solve everyday challenges that were inspired by STEM education. We need more support from government, private sector and communities to support STEM education now more than ever because we cannot be left on the backfoot of this worldwide movement,” he says.
February was earmarked for the start of the Department of Basic Education’s (DBE) pilot coding and robotics curriculum; however, it has been pushed back due to unforeseen circumstances. Learners and parents from Grades R to 3 must wait a few more months for the Department of Basic Education (DBE) to kick off the new coding and robotics curriculum across South African Schools this year.
The new curriculum is set to lay a foundation of development and keen interest towards coding and robotics from a young age. This programme will see 50 schools participating in this pilot project.
Brian Andrew, MD of RS Components South Africa, welcomes the pilot programme and added that this will be a good start to transforming the current curriculum so that the country’s youth can be better equipped for future occupations.
“South Africa’s youngsters have so much talent. Through STEM education, coding and robotics these youngsters will be able to build their capabilities and facilitate incredible levels of innovation which we desperately need. The future looks exciting and it will interesting to see how our country adapts to this new world,” he says.