Evening Post - 15.10.1999

Young computer bofs making a difference

GERMAN pupils' involvement in SA education is beginning to have a positive impact on Walmer township schools.
The Zanamafa High School in Gqebera has broadened its curriculumto include computer training in line with the country's curriculum of preparing the youth for the employment market.
This has been made possible by the generous contribution of computers by German companies to Gqbera schools.
through efforts of German teacher Rolf Meder, German companies were approached to contribute computers to schools in the disadvantaged areas of Port Elizabeth.
Zanamafa was among those schools selected for a partnership with German schools.
There are already eight German students presently based at the Xolelanani Youth Centre who will assist pupils from various schools in the township in learning computer skills.
Enthusiastic Zanamafa school teacher Nobuntu Ntantiso, who co-ordinates the school's pen-pal programme, said the equipment would satisfy the needs of the new century child's desire for computer knowledge.
"We will select from among our pupils a group to train in this technology once a proper computer facility has been installed," Ntantiso said.
Ntantiso has also been selected to represent the school on a visit to Germany next year.
Meder, who is in charge of the computer literacy programme, said provisionally a container would be used as a computer laboratory at Zanamafa.
He envisaged that by next year pupils and teachers would have access to the Internet.