Vodacom and government launch Lephalale Primary School in Limpopo

Today, Minister of Basic Education, Mrs Angie Motshekga officially handed over Lephalale Primary School in Lephalale (Ellisras) to the community. This school was the realisation of a partnership formed between Vodacom and the Limpopo Department of Education to address the need for educational infrastructure in Lephalale.

"Reaching out to rural communities, by providing schools and other services, as we're doing with Vodacom, will go a long way in reducing the number of people without any schooling, that is, 8.6% of the population according to Census 2011," Basic Education Minister, Mrs Angie Motshekga says. "We're determined to eradicate school infrastructure backlogs through mutually beneficial partnerships such as we
have with Vodacom."

The Limpopo Department of Education identified a need in Lephalale for a new primary school due to an influx of workers into the municipal district, following the construction of a power station in the area. Vodacom, having a long standing relationship with the Department of Education heeded the call to ensure that this need became a reality.

"We have placed much emphasis on creating meaningful partnerships to provide access to basic services in education," says Maya Makanjee, chief officer corporate affairs at Vodacom. "The partnership with the Department in completing this new school has been a great honour and we are delighted to be part of a solution to enhance the quality of education for these learners."        

Lephalale Primary School currently has 143 learners and 10 teachers, but the school has the potential to accommodate up to 900 learners and classrooms will fill up in the new year. The new school consists of 26 classrooms, a computer and science laboratory, a multimedia centre, an administration block, hall, nutrition centre, two toilet blocks, and space for a sports and netball field that will soon be completed.

Vodacom also handed over communications equipment at the event to ensure that the school's staff are able to complete their administrative tasks. Vodacom has further pledged to supply the computer centre at the school with equipment and connectivity in the upcoming months, in keeping with its core philosophy to use mobile technology to improve education for teachers and learners. 

Vodacom has a long history of investing in education in the Limpopo province. Through the Vodacom Millionaire's Programme, the company has equipped 35 schools in the province with computer centres and connectivity. 

Early next year, Vodacom will be launching the Limpopo chapter of the Vodacom Mobile Education Programme in Makhado. This resource centre will train 1 400 teachers from 172 schools annually in the use technology in the Limpopo region.