New digital lab handed over at rural Eastern Cape school

A new computer laboratory has been handed over at Mzikayise Dalasile Secondary School in the Chris Hani East District, bringing digital learning tools to a rural Eastern Cape classroom.

The facility was delivered through a partnership between the Eastern Cape Department of Education, led by MEC Fundile Gade, and the MTN SA Foundation. According to the official statement, the project is part of a broader push to improve digital education through long-term collaboration rather than one-off donations.

The handover includes a 20-seater computer lab with learner stations and an educator workstation. The school will also receive internet connectivity for 24 months, along with maintenance and technical support over the same period. Teachers are expected to be trained and onboarded onto the MTN Online School platform, while classrooms were prepared with security upgrades, furniture and electrical readiness.

For learners in this part of the Eastern Cape, where access to computers and internet remains limited, the lab could change how teaching and learning happens daily. Digital access means exposure to online resources, research tools and new ways of learning that are often taken for granted in urban schools.

The department says the aim is to improve curriculum delivery and build digital literacy, especially in communities that have historically been left behind. The project is positioned as part of the province’s broader education transformation strategy.

What remains unclear is how many schools in the district will receive similar support and how the programme will be sustained beyond the 24-month support window. This has not been confirmed.

For the local community, the development raises expectations around equal access to education resources. Schools across the Eastern Cape continue to face infrastructure gaps, and digital access is increasingly seen as essential, not optional.

If implemented effectively, the initiative could help learners build confidence and prepare for a job market that increasingly requires digital skills. But long-term success will depend on continued support, teacher readiness and reliable connectivity.

We will update this story as more details emerge about rollout plans in other schools and long-term funding.